Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets to win Tri-Series final
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets (with 93 balls remaining) to claim the Tri-Series final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Rashid Khan took 3/41 as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 169, before Ibrahim Zadran anchored the reply with 70 not out from 96 balls. Afghanistan reached 170/3 in 34.3 overs, with their bowling depth and substantial partnerships leaving Zimbabwe little room to recover.
Zimbabwe chose to bat but slipped to 26/3 as Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tafadzwa Tsiga, while Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Brian Bennett. Sikandar Raza provided the main resistance with 68 from 83 balls, adding 60 with Ryan Burl for the fifth wicket after Brendan Taylor fell at 55/4. Mohammad Nabi, who finished with 2/25, dismissed Burl for 31 and then had Wesley Madhevere stumped. Rashid removed Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri and Raza as Zimbabwe fell to 137/9. A last-wicket stand of 32 extended the innings but could not produce a demanding total.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave Afghanistan early impetus with 36 from 31 balls in an opening partnership of 68. Nyamhuri dismissed Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal to leave them 80/2, but Ibrahim and Rahmat Shah then added 82. Shah fell for 43 with the score at 162/3; Ibrahim stayed to complete a chase built on partnerships Zimbabwe could not break quickly enough.