AFGHANISTAN followed up their ODI series win over Zimbabwe by ending their tour with a 2-0 Twenty20 international series success.Usman Ghani and Gulbadin Naib starred with the bat as Afghanistan secured another historic victory at the expense of Zimbabwe, with yesterday’s dramatic five-wicket win sealing a Twenty20 international series triumph.
The minnows claimed their first series victory against a full International Cricket Council (ICC) member nation last week when they edged the one-day internationals 3-2 in Bulawayo.
Afghanistan followed that up by winning the first T20 on Monday and, two days later, sealed their first series win over a full ICC member in the shortest format of the game by coming out on top in a gripping contest at Queens Sports Club.
Sean Williams (54) made the joint-fastest T20 international half-century by a Zimbabwean as the hosts posted 190-7 after winning the toss.
But Ghani (65) and Naib (56 not out) recorded maiden T20 international fifties as the tourists got home with one ball to spare to inflict more misery on Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe got off to a dreadful start as Dawlat Zadran (2-24) bowled Chamu Chibhabha with the second ball of the match.
But the impressive Williams and Richmond Mutumbami (43) put on 55 for the third wicket in just over four overs to put Zimbabwe on course for a challenging total.
Williams needed just 21 balls to bring up his half-century, matching the record set by Elton Chigumbura, and Zimbabwe were well set on 85-3 when he was out in the ninth over.
Mutumbami and Chigumbura (33) then put on 60 in 40 deliveries, but Amir Hamza (2-26) got rid of them both to keep the target below 200.
Ghani, playing in his second T20 international, then produced fireworks at the top of the order with three sixes and a further six boundaries in an opening stand of 95 with Mohammad Shahzad (24) before his 45-ball knock came to an end.
Naib also scored freely and held his nerve in a tense finale, scoring the winning runs from the penultimate ball as the tourists got home after needing 39 from the last three overs.
