ZIM VS AFG - 1st T20I, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe, 2022

What a gesture from Najib to give the Player of the Match award to the debutant who took three wickets. This indeed was a tight game. We have seen many times before Zimbabwe create chances but not finish games before. Tomorrow is another opportunity to get better in that aspect. Afghanistan are always going to be tough opponents. These two sides will lock horns again at 13:00 local time. See you soon!

Najibullah Zadran: When I went in to bat I told him (Darwish) we will build a partnership and then we will easily chase in the last 4 odd overs. The pitch was very good. Just see the ball and hit the ball was my plan. I dedicate this award to debutant Nijat Masood. (Najib calls and gives him the award).

Mohammad Nabi: Really good game. We started well with the bat but we three three wickets in the middle. Zimbabwe fought back, the way Najib finished was so good. Yes there was a bit of panic in the dressing room because of the runrate.

Craig Ervine: With the fight we are happy, but it is also disappointing to lose from a winning position. I thought 160 was about par.

16:33 Local Time, 14:33 GMT, 20:03 IST: Afghanistan keep this calm under pressure to pull this off. All the experiences across different leagues for their players is helping them and what a good fighting team they are anyway. So they were off to a blazing start as Zazi and Gurbaz added 83 without loss in 10 overs. Looked like a cakewalk, but Ryan Burl stunned the visitors by taking three wickets in the 11th. Zimbabwe then tightened the screws and in fact gained the upper hand with Darwish Rasooli struggling for timing. They needed a daunting 54 runs off the last 4 overs but Hazratullah used all his experience and stole 26 runs off Muzarabani's third over as the bowler bowled wides and no balls as well. With that big over, Afghanistan had things under control Nabi hit some timely boundaries to close the game out.

Muzarabani to Najibullah, SIX, slogged away in the air and that is the game for Afghanistan. Slower delivery, Najibullah waits and powers it for six over square leg. Muzarabani having an off day, went for 34 runs off his last 8 balls

Muzarabani to Najibullah, 2 runs, very full delivery, driven to long-on oh a fumble allows the second run

Blessing Muzarabani [3.0-0-47-0] is back into the attack

8 off 6. Two very experienced batters in for Afghanistan. Can Zimbabwe pull of a miracle?

Chatara to Nabi, no run, swing and a miss! Full delivery outside off stump, Nabi wanted to loft and missed

Chatara to Najibullah, 1 run, another good yorker, Najibullah swings and gets an inside edge onto pad

Chatara to Nabi, 1 run, yorker on the stumps, Nabi drills this to long-on

Chatara to Nabi, no run, yorker on the stumps, Nabi digs it out

Chatara to Nabi, FOUR, edgeddd and fine past the keeper. Nabi doing it for Afghanistan. Short delivery outside off stump, Nabi wanted a piece of that over long-on, but got a thick edge that flew away fine

Chatara to Nabi, FOUR, smashed away to deep extra-cover, oh the fielder doesn't cut that off. Got to the ball and tried the dive but it escaped his grasp. Down to 14 off 11

Tendai Chatara [3.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack

Jongwe to Nabi, 1 run, slower delivery, Nabi flicks to long-on

Jongwe to Nabi, FOUR, full delivery outside off stump, Nabi drives, chance for the man at deep cover but he can't cut it off despite the dive. That four spoils the over for Zimbabwe

Jongwe to Nabi, wide, slower delivery down leg, Nabi misses the glance

Jongwe to Najibullah, 1 run, full delivery angling across, Najibullah mistimes the slog wide of deep mid-wicket