AFG VS ZIM - 1st T20I, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe in UAE, 2021

That is all from this game. Zimbabwe need to win the next one on Friday to stay alive in the series, same venue, same time! Do remember to join us for that. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!!

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Player of the Match: Feels very good when you get a start like that. Every player have their plans and my plan was to go for shots in the early overs, I will try to convert this into a hundred the next time.

Asghar Afghan: The first game is very important always and especially today Gurbaz and Karim Janant partnership was very important for us. I know my areas while batting and I cashed in when the opportunity came. Our bowlers are very experienced and they bowled really well today.

Sean Williams: Winning the toss was a big thing and I think they batted really well and it's T20 cricket and it can happen. I think Gurbaz played really well and his opening partner played a crucial role as well. It was a good wicket to bat on and we haven't had much training leading up to this T20 series and hopefully we will do much better in the next game. The execution was poor and in this shortest format of the game, it's costly.

17:23 local: Zimbabwe's innings lacked momentum. They struggled to find boudaries at crucial moments and had only one 12-plus over throughout the innings. At the half-way stage, both teams had their chances but Afghanistan smartly saved Rashid's four overs for the back-end of the innings and the ever-impressive legspinner didn't disappoint. He picked up three wickets during his economical spell while Karim Janat and Fareed Malik chipped in with two apiece. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe tried his best to convert his start, but the pressure of required run rate and lack of boundaries in the powerplay dented his approach at the crease.

Fareed Malik to Brandon Mavuta, no run, looks for a reverse swipe ala Rishabh Pant but no dice. Beaten for lack of pace outside off. Afghanistan win this comortably by 48 runs and go 1-0 up in the series

Fareed Malik to Tiripano, 1 run, clears his front leg and thumps the slower length delivery to the left of extra cover

Fareed Malik to Tiripano, 2 runs, gets up on his toes and slaps the slower short ball over extra cover for a couple of runs

Fareed Malik to Tiripano, no run, slower and wider of off, Tiripano jumps back and looks to cut, gets beaten for lack of pace

Fareed Malik to Brandon Mavuta, 1 run, short outside off, pulled away to the left of deep mid-wicket

Fareed Malik to Brandon Mavuta, SIX, brilliant execution from Brandon Mavuta! Gets across a long way, gets under the full delivery and scoops it high and over the fine leg fence

Fareed Malik [3.0-0-21-2] is back into the attack

Karim Janat to Brandon Mavuta, 1 run, short and angled into the stumps, Mavuta swivels and pulls it to the right of deep mid-wicket

Karim Janat to Tiripano, 1 run, very full and wide of off, Tiripano opens the bat face and slices the drive to the left of sweeper cover

Karim Janat to Brandon Mavuta, leg byes, 1 run, looks to flick and misses, the ball slides into the pads and rolls to backward square

Karim Janat to Brandon Mavuta, no run, gets an inside edge on the flick to square leg

Karim Janat to Tiripano, 1 run, full on the stumps, drilled down to long-on

Karim Janat to Tiripano, no run, full and just outside off, driven straight to cover

Karim Janat [3.0-0-11-2] is back into the attack

Rashid Khan to Brandon Mavuta, 2 runs, cut away to the right of backward point. End of a terrific spell from Rashid Khan: 3/28 from his 4 overs.