Nabi takes Afghanistan to Zimbabwe T20 series victory

Veteran Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi scored seven off three balls in the final over at Harare Sports Club to deliver a three-wicket Twenty20 win over Zimbabwe on Saturday, and a 2-1 series victory.

Nabi struck a four off the first ball, followed by a two and a single in a tense finish as the tourists followed up a 50-run triumph on Friday.

Nabi finished unbeaten on 24 – the second best Afghan batter after another allrounder, Azmatullah Omarzai, who made 34 after taking two wickets.

Zimbabwe posted 127 in 19.5 overs and Afghanistan 128-7 with three balls to spare as they won a sixth consecutive T20 series against the southern African nation.

"In the middle of our innings we lost some wickets cheaply which put pressure on us," Nabi told reporters.

"But I managed to control my nerves and that gave me the confidence to go on and score the series-winning runs.

"Next up is the one-day international series and this wicket is not easy to judge. The pitch for the first two games was better – today it was up and down."

Afghan captain Rashid Khan won a third straight toss, but after batting first in the earlier matches, he opted to bowl in the series decider.

Khan took 4-27 for Afghanistan while opener Brian Bennett top scored for Zimbabwe with 31, including four fours.

Afghanistan struggled in reply, losing four wickets for 44 before a 48-run fifth-wicket stand between Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib (22) tilted the balance toward the visiting team.

From then on the tourists looked the likelier winners, but when Omarzai was caught and bowled by Sikandar Raza with 13 balls remaining, there was a glimmer of hope for the home team.

But Naib dashed those hopes with his 18-ball knock, which included three fours.

Batters struggled with neither team managing to score a six while Zimbabwe hit 11 fours – two more than Afghanistan.

The teams now play a three-match one-day international series in Harare, starting on Tuesday, then two tests in Bulawayo.

ZIMBABWE: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wkt), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (capt), Faraz Akram, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu.

AFGHANISTAN: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wkt), Sediqullah Atal, Zubaid Akbari, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi .