Afghanistan won by 12 runs (DLS method - due to rain)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Asghar Afghan
Batter
Bowler
That's it from Harare. We will see you next on Sunday for the second installment of this 5-match ODI series. Same place, same time. Do remember to join us. Good night and goodbye from the team!!
Graeme Cremer: ''I thought 230-250 was a par score and we did well to restric them under 220. We didn''t bat well. We knew that rain would play its part. We shouldn''t have been in this situation. We should have been cruising with just two wickets down.''
Zimbabwe were sailing smoothly with Ryan Burl and Craig Ervine going along nicely, but the former's untimely dismissal followed by a boom-whoosh rain meant Afghanistan held the edge. As ever, DLS had its say and in situations like these, the players have to be aware of all the ifs and buts of the scenario. Burl, the debutant. Only if he stayed, Zimbabwe would have won by one run. Cricket is a funny game, ain't it?
17:04 Local Time: Pack your bags, fellas! As we feared, the game has been called off. Afghanistan win by 12 runs via DLS equation. The wet patches around the edge of the circle seem to be damaged, and thus the onfield umpires didn't want to take a chance as it could be harmful for the players. To make matters worse, the light hasn't improved one bit. The players shake hands and engage in a chitter-chatter session at their respective dressing rooms. All over then...
The updates on twitter - courtesy some Zimbabwean fans - aren't promising either. A few reckon it's all over at Harare. Waiting for official confirmation
16:50 Local Time: Oh no! I'm afraid there's some bad news approaching. The match refree David Jukes is having a word with Grame Cremer. Ashgar Stanikzai, too, is listening intently. Now, both captains mosey out towards the area which has been labelled "DODGY" by the onfield umpires. So, by the looks of it, I won't be surprised if they shake hands. Conflabs, conflabs, conflabs everywhere...
16:30 Local Time: Welcome back. The players are out in the middle. Oops! There seems to be some issue with the outfield. The players go back to the dressing room. Heath Streak is on the field and has a chat with umpire Russell Tiffin. The groundsmen are trying their best to dry the wet patch. There is one area just at the edge of the circle which is being stuffed with sawdust. Roller brought out as well to take care of the dangerous area. We might lose some more overs in this process.
16:21 Local Time: The latest news coming in is that we've lost four overs. The revised target for Zimbabwe is 207 in 46 overs. Play to resume in less than ten minutes from now.
16:10 Local Time: The ground staff are back. This time to peel off the covers. Yes, the rain has stopped. But there are a few puddles on the outfield which will worry the umpires. Also, the main cover is still on.
15:42 Local Time: It is bucketing now. The covers are on. The players sprint off the field. The pitch is covered. Now, the groundsmen bring in a bigger sheet to cover the square. Afghanistan are 13 runs ahead on the DLS equation. Stay tuned for further updates.
Rashid Khan to Tarisai Musakanda, no run, turned into the leg-side
Tarisai Musakanda, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Rashid Khan to Ryan Burl, out Lbw!! What a time to get a wicket. First for Rashid Khan in the match. After all those wrong 'uns, he decides to bowl a leg-break and that gets him a wicket. Burl plays down the wrong line and gets struck on the front leg in front of off. The ball would have gone onto hit off and middle. Ryan Burl lbw b Rashid Khan 28(46) [4s-3]
Rashid Khan to Ryan Burl, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!
Rashid Khan [4.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack
It has started to rain now!
END OF OVER 27
5 Runs
ZIM: 99 - 3
0 1 1 1 1 1
Ryan Burl
28 (45)
C Ervine
38 (56)
Nabi
7-0-26-1
Nabi to Ryan Burl, 1 run, tosses it up this time outside off, driven firmly to the right of long-off. Can't collect more than one
Nabi to C Ervine, 1 run, fired in quick by Nabi. Driven off the inside half of the bat to long-on
Nabi to Ryan Burl, 1 run, Burl backs away a long way and Nabi follows him. Chopped to cover for a single
Nabi to C Ervine, 1 run, gives the charge by coming down the track to knock it towards long-on. Gets an inside edge that rolls to backward square leg