Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi scored seven off three balls in the final over at the Harare Sports Club Stadium to secure a three-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I on Saturday and a 2-1 series victory.
Nabi hit a four off the first ball and then two and a single in a thrilling finish as the tourists triumphed by 50 runs on Friday.
Nabi finished the match unbeaten on 24 – he was the second highest Afghan batsman after fellow all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who took 34 wickets after taking two wickets.
Zimbabwe scored 127 in 19.5 overs and Afghanistan made 128-7 with three balls to spare to win their sixth consecutive T20I series against the South African nation.
“We lost a few wickets cheaply in the middle of the innings, which put us under pressure,” Nabi said after the match.
“But I managed to control my nerves, which gave me the confidence to continue and score winning runs. Next up is the one-day international series and this wicket is not an easy one to judge. In the first two matches, the pitch was better, today there were ups and downs,” he added.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the third toss in a row, but after batting first in the earlier matches, he opted to bowl in the decider.
Khan took 4-27 for Afghanistan while opener Brian Bennett top-scored for Zimbabwe with 31, including four fours.
Afghanistan fought back in response, losing four wickets for 44 before a 48-run fifth-wicket stand between Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib (22) tipped the scales in favor of the visiting team.
From then on, the tourists looked the more likely winners, but when Omarzai was caught and bowled by Sikandar Raza with 13 balls remaining, there was a glimmer of hope for the hosts.
However, Naib dashed these hopes with his 18-ball knock, including three fours.
The batsmen struggled, with neither team scoring a six as Zimbabwe hit 11 fours – two more than Afghanistan.
The teams now play a three-match ODI series in Harare, starting on Tuesday, followed by two matches in Bulawayo.
Brief results
Zimbabwe 127 in 19.5 overs (B.Bennett 31, W.Madhevere 21; Rashid Khan 4-27, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-10, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-20, Naveen-ul-Haq 2-27) against Afghanistan 128- 7 19.3 overs (Omarzai 34, Mohammad Nabi 24 not out, Gulbadin Naib 22; B.Muzarabani 2-19, Sikandar Raza 2-19, T.Gwandu 2-30).
