Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Ball by Ball Commentary - AFG in ZIM 3 T20Is 2024

19.6Oh, he's done it! Tashinga Musekiwa has only gone and done it! Azmatullah Omarzai hones in at the stumps, looking for the yorker but Musekiwa manages to stay deep and jam it out past the fielder at silly mid on and they cross for the winning run. Zimbabwe WIN BY 4 WICKETS!

19.5Scores are level and the crowd is going wild! Hard length over middle, Musekiwa keeps his shape and short-arm jabs it across through the mid-wicket region and into the deep for two. Super-over on the cards? Let's find out...

19.4Loud appeal for caught behind but turned down, it is a dot ball though. Short ball, bowled at a brisk pace and over middle, Musekiwa is taken by surprise and misses the ball as he looks to pull.

19.3How has that not been a run out! Azmatullah Omarzai nails the yorker now and Tashinga Musekiwa jams it out straight to long off for one and they even go for the second which is never on. Darwish Rasooli though with a weak throw at the keeper's end and Musekiwa dives in to safety. 3 needed off 3!

19.2The call is for two and they get it with ease! Looks to spear in the yorker at the toes but misses the mark, Musekiwa manages to jam it down just wide of long on and picks up a couple of runs.

19.1FOUR! Wow, what a shot and what a time to hit it as well. Slower one, on a hard length and outside off, Tashinga Musekiwa is early to move across the off stump and hammers it high and in between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary. Just 7 needed now off 5.

18.6Misses the yorker by a few inches and Wellington Masakadza picks it up off middle and leg and hits it in front of deep mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.

18.5FOUR! Zimbabwe staying alive in the chase! Slower bumper from around the wicket, stands up nicely and Wellington Masakadza nails the pull right in between square leg and mid-wicket for a boundary.

18.4OUT! CAUGHT! Smart bowling from Naveen-ul-Haq and Afghanistan are inching closer to the finish line now. Naveen takes pace off by rolling his fingers over the ball and floats it full and wide. Wessly Madhevere backs away to go big but is early in the lofted shot and ends up hitting it down to long off where Rashid Khan takes a simple catch. 17 needed now off 8 balls.

18.3Full and straight, right in the blockhole, Tashinga Musekiwa can only manage to jam it down to long on. Mohammad Nabi attacks it well in the field and it will be just a single.

18.2Brilliant running but Rashid Khan a bit lazy there in the field. Goes full and wide again, Tashinga Musekiwa hangs back and crunches it wide of long off for a couple of runs.

18.1Good fielding! Hard length outside off, Madhevere throws his bat at it and gets an outside edge that flies to the right of short third. Mujeeb Ur Rahman dives full stretch and gets a hand on it. Just a single taken.

17.6Fired in full and outside off, Madhevere stays deep in the crease and firms it down to wide long off for a single.

17.5Floated up a bit, full and on the pads, Tashinga Musekiwa swings and misses as the ball goes off the pads to short fine for a leg bye.

17.4Darted in at the stumps, Madhevere swats it hard but down to long on for just a single.

17.3Just slows it up and drifts it into the pads, Wessly Madhevere goes for the reverse sweep but misses and gets struck on the front pad.

17.2Flatter delivery at the stumps, hit away through mid on for a single.

17.1Swing and a miss! Dragged length around middle and angling in, Tashinga Musekiwa looks to rock back and pull but misses and gets hit on the pads.

16.6Short and wide, cut away by Tashinga Musekiwa through point for a single.

16.5No run. Play and a miss! The batter wasn't quite sure how to play that one.

16.4OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the fielder in the deep and that's a massive swing in momentum now. Rashid Khan drops the length back and bowls it right over middle, Ryan Burl gets inside the line and looks to whip it away but ends up hitting it straight down the throat of Azmatullah Omarzai at deep backward square leg. Omarzai is well inside the ropes and Rashid has two wickets in the over.

16.4WIDE! Slips one just down the leg side and Ryan Burl fails to get a tickle on it.

16.3Short on middle and leg, Madhevere gets inside the line and pulls it on one knee to deep backward square leg for one.

16.2On a length and around off, Wessly Madhevere fails to get it away.

16.1OUT! TIMBER! Rashid Khan and Afghanistan won't go down without a fight. Rashid comes back into the attack and bowls a quick and flat delivery on off. This one stays a bit low and skids through. Brian Bennett looks to go down on one knee and slog but is beaten and hears the death rattle behind him as he departs on 49.

15.6On a dragged length on leg, Bennett looks to get inside the line but just gets the toe end of the bat on it and gets it to short fine leg for a run.

15.5A bit full and angled into middle and leg, Ryan Burl brings out the sweep and gets it through square leg for a single.

15.4Fired in full at the stumps, Burl makes room and drives it straight to covers.

15.3SIX! That's gone all the way! Nabi slides it into the pads, Ryan Burl sits down and picks it up before lapping it just behind square leg for a biggie.

15.21 run, that is just a mere push for a run.

15.1Nicely flighted and around off, Ryan Burl makes room and drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

14.6Slower again, well into the pitch and around off, Burl pulls it away in front of deep mid-wicket for a run.

14.6WIDE! Attempted slower one, spilled down the leg side for a single.

14.5Length ball, angled in from well wide of the crease, Bennett backs away and just guides it behind point for a run more.

14.4Into the pitch around off and a bit slower too, Burl waits back and hits it square through point for a single.

14.3OUT! CAUGHT! That's a ripper of a catch from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naveen-ul-Haq finally gets his man. This is bowled a bit full and angled across off from around the stumps. Sikandar Raza sets up deep in the crease and belts it uppishly and wide of covers where Gurbaz dives full-stretch to his right and grabs it with both hands. The umpires do go upstairs to check the catch but its fine and Raza has to depart.

14.2FOUR! The change of angle does do Naveen any favors. Full and straight from around the wicket, Raza gets under it and logfts it straight down the ground for a boundary. 100 up for Zimbabwe as well.

14.2WIDE! A fifth wide in the over, fourth in succession and this is just shoddy cricket, trying to get out of the Free Hit. Full and wide outside off, left alone by Raza.

14.2WIDE! Oh, dear! This is going from bad to worse as Naveen persists with the wide yorker and gets it beyond the tramline. Raza goes after it but misses.

14.2WIDE! Naveen seems under immense pressure as he misses the wide yorker by a long way this time.

14.2WIDE! Full and wide, nailed in the blockhole but just a bit too wide of the off stump. Free Hit to continue...

14.2NO BALL AND FOUR! Naveen loses his bearings and serves a beamer well outside off, Sikandar Raza goes after it and slices it up and over short third for a boundary. No ball called for height and a Free Hit to follow...

14.1Back of a length and around off, slower too, dabbed down wide of short third for a single.

14.1WIDE! Ooh, that might have been a tad harsh! Naveen comes back and and nails the wide yorker but right on the tramline and maybe just an inch wide of it as well.

13.6Really slow and a bit short around off, Sikandar Raza goes hard at the cut but fails to get it away.

13.5Good fielding! Slowed up on a shorter length around off, Bennett makes room to cut but slices it to the left of short third where the fielder does well to not get beaten by the spin and keeps it down to one.

13.4Nearly a huge mix-up in the middle! Flighted on the pads, Bennett uses his feet and just pushes it across to mid-wicket. Both batters look for the single but eventually decide against it.

13.3Fired in full and angled across the off stump, Raza squeezes it towards backward point for one.

13.2OUT! CAUGHT! Mohammad Nabi comes into the attack and breaks the stand as well. Nabi drags the length back and looks to slide it across the right-hander. Dion Myers comes down the pitch and gives it a big heave only to skew it straight up in the air. The keeper, Mohammad Ishaq settles under it and takes it just behind the stumps.

13.1Nabi starts from around the stumps and bowls it full on middle and leg, Bennett slog-sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

12.6Full and outside off, Bennett goes hard at it but mistimes it down the ground for a single.

12.5FOUR! Oh, just out of reach and Zimbabwe are marching on here. Hard length over middle, Bennett looks to swing it away but gets it off the higher part of the bat and to the left of long off where Rashid Khan gets across and puts it the dive but gets evaded by the ball.

12.4Sloppy in the field again from Naveen-ul-Haq. Fuller one around off, driven towards extra cover where Naveen lets it through for a couple of more runs.

12.3In the air...safe! A quicker bumper now from Omarzai, over middle and Brian Bennett looks to take it on. Gets hurried and gets a top edge over the keeper's head for a couple of runs.

12.2FOUR! Perfectly in the gap! Shortish length again at the batter, sticking in the deck, Bennett is early in the pull and gets it much squarer, right in between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

12.1Short-pitched delivery over middle, hurrying the batter, Myers just about manages to pull it over mid-wicket for a single.

11.6Slightly short and wide, Myers goes for the cut but ends up slicing it over backward point for one more.

11.5On a dragged length and darted in at the stumps, Myers fails to get it away.

11.4On a length and around off, Bennett steps out and skews the lofted shot just over cover-point for a single.

11.3Beaten! Quicker through the air, a bit full and outside off, Bennett looks to make room and cut but misses.

11.2Flatter one attacking the stumps, Myers backs away again and just hits it down to long off for a single.

11.1SIX! Dion Myers is taking down Rashid Khan. Slightly dragged down, it is the googly that turns in from middle, Myers backs away early and clubs it wide of long on for a biggie.

10.6Slower and bowled well into the pitch outside off, Myers goes after it but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls off his body behind point as they get across for a run.

10.5Back of a length and bowled into the batter, Bennett swats it away to deep mid-wicket for a single and brings up the 50-run stand between these two.

10.4Hard length on off and angled in, this one holds in the deck a bit as Bennett gets a top edge towards extra cover while looking for the flick.

10.3Bowled from around the wicket and slower too, Bennett looks to go after it but miscues it behind point.

10.2FOUR! Great hand-eye co-ordination! Not all that full but wide of the off stump, Bennett stays put and just stretches out those long arms and slaps it behind point for a boundary.

10.1Pitched up full and around off, Brian Bennett hangs back and forces the drive wide of mid off and Rashid Khan gives the long chase. It should have been three runs but Bennett drops his bat and they settle for two.

9.6Bennett gives the charge and the plays the fuller delivery on off through extra cover for another single. Zimbabwe are 54/1 at the halfway mark, needing 91 more off 60 deliveries.

9.5At the stumps once again and this is driven down to long on for an easy single.

9.4The wrong'un now, turning onto middle, Dion Myers makes room to cut but has to adjust and blocks it off.

9.3A tad shorter on off, Bennett makes room and hits it down to long off for a single.

9.2Flatter delivery, attacking the stumps as well, Myers stays back and turns it through the leg side for a run.

9.150 up for Zimbabwe! Fuller and outside off, played away towards cover for a single by Bennett.

8.6Very full and around off, pushed out straight to mid off for a dot.

8.5Full and wide, Bennett stays deep in the crease and backs away before lofting it over covers for only a single.

8.51 run.

8.4Should have been put away! Shortish ball around leg, Dion Myers looks to lift it over fine leg but gets it off the gloves and just wide of short fine for a quick single. Given as leg byes!

8.3Pitched up on middle and leg, Bennett clears the front leg and short-arm jabs it on the bounce to long on for a single.

8.2Just back of a length and on a tighter line around off, Bennett looks to drop and run but won't get it.

8.1FOUR! Loose, too loose! Full and wide, angled across the right-hander, Brian Bennett throws his hands at it and gets it past point for a boundary.

7.6On middle and leg now, swept away behind square for a single.

7.5Half a shout for LBW but turned down! On a length and angled in a long way from outside off, Bennett strides across looking to sweep but misses and wears it on the pads. The impact might have been just outside the line of off.

7.4Slides one into the pads, a tad full and Bennett looks to flick and misses.

7.3Flatter one aimed at middle stump, nudged away in front of square leg by Myers for one more.

7.2A bit fuller again and on the stumps, driven down to long on for a single.

7.1Ooh, almost! Mujeeb comes back on and fires it in a bit fuller and around off, Bennett looks to cut but is beaten past the outside edge.

6.6Just back of a length and outside off, firmed away on the up and to the left of sweeper cover for just one more.

6.5Good length on off, just eased into the off side through covers for a single.

6.4Attempted bumper, in line with the stumps but doesn't quite rise up high enough as Myers bends his back and gets out of the line of the ball.

6.3Good length, attacking the stumps as well, Myers keeps it out.

6.2Hard length, angled into the batter, Bennett fails to pull and gets an inside edge off the thigh pad and wide of the keeper before scampering across for the single.

6.1Top shot and good running as well. Full and wide, Dion Myers leans on and drives it well wide of sweeper cover and picks up three runs as well.

5.6Dot to end the Powerplay, Zimbabwe are 33/1 at the end of it. On a dragged length and outside off, Brian Bennett rocks back to cut but misses.

5.5Length on middle, pushed away down to long on for a single.

5.4The googly now, on a length around off and turning back in, this one stays a bit low as well and beats the bat.

5.3FOUR! Myers goes back-to-back! Dragged down outside off, Dion Myers goes chasing and cuts it firmly past point for another boundary.

5.2FOUR! Myers takes Rashid on and picks up four runs! Tossed up outside off, a bit fuller, Myers stays leg side and lofts it nicely over covers for a boundary.

5.1Some turn for Rashid right away! Tossed up, on a nagging length and turning away from around off, Myers looks to cut but misses.

4.6Good length around the top of off, Dion Myers pats it on the up and straight to covers but manages to scamper through for a single.

4.5Fuller in length and around off, eased away into the off side for another dot.

4.4Hard length on middle, angling in and skidding off the deck, Myers is hurried on and misses the pull, getting hit on the thigh pads.

4.3DROPPED! Naveen-ul-Haq drops a sitter! Nagging length around off, not all that full but Brian Bennett just clears the front leg and looks to go over mid off, miscuing it badly but Naveen moves to his right and completely shells it as the batter get a single.

4.2Hard length around off, threatening to shape back in, Bennett stands tall and cuts it hard but straight to cover-point.

4.1Excellent running, putting pressure on the fielders. Hard length angled in from middle, Myers nudges it down to the right of Mohammad Nabi at mid-wicket and races through for the single.

3.6Keeps the length relatively full and on middle, Myers pushes it to mid on and skips to the other end.

3.5Slightly flighted, Dion Myers gets well forward and drills it past the diving fielder at mid on and into the deep for brace.

3.4Fired into the blockhole around middle, Bennett leans on and pushes it on the full to mid on for one more.

3.3The carrom ball now, on middle and just eased down the ground for a single by Myers.

3.2Quick single again! Full and around off, jammed out to mid off for another single by Bennett.

3.1FOUR! Loose delivery and punished! Short and wide, Brian Bennett stands tall and slaps the ball flat and hard through covers for a boundary.

2.6OUT! CAUGHT! Naveen-ul-Haq gets his man and Afghanistan get their first wicket. On a fuller length and angles it into the pads from around the stumps. Tadiwanashe Marumani leans on and flicks it aerially but straight over backward square leg. Azmatullah Omarzai comes in from the deep and takes a safe catch.

2.5Slower one, floated up on a nagging length and right at the stumps, Marumani watches it well and blocks it off.

2.4Risky single that! A yorker on off, Brian Bennett jams it out straight to Rahmanullah Gurbaz at extra cover and sets off for the single. Thankfully for Bennett, Gurbaz misses the shy at the bowler's end and they get the run.

2.3Around the wicket now to the left-hander and this is bowled short and outside off, Marumani dabs it down wide of the point region and picks up another single.

2.2A little too straight and Brian Bennett will be happy to get off the mark. Good length angled well into the pads, ticked away through square leg for a single.

2.1Dug in short at the body line, Marumani does well to get on top of the bounce and nudge it down towards mid-wicket for one.

1.6Still not off the mark here Brian Bennett. Flatter one, on a length and around off, coming back in, Bennett rocks back and jams it into the off side.

1.5Drags the length back and slides it onto the stumps, Marumani goes back and across and tucks it through mid-wicket for one.

1.4Nagging length on middle, Marumani gets inside the line and gets a bit of glove on the lap sweep and gets it down to fine leg for a couple of runs.

1.3Darted in even fuller and just down leg, Marumani looks for the fine sweep now but miscues it towards short fine.

1.2On a fuller length around middle and angling in, Marumani goes for the sweep but fails to get it away.

1.1FOUR! Well, that's one way to counter-attack! Bowled from around the stumps and into the left-hander, Tadiwanashe Marumani brings out the reverse and gets it up and over backward point for a boundary. Zimbabwe are underway.

0.6A maiden to begin the chase, wow! Hard length outside off, Brian Bennett looks to cut but misses.

0.5Oh, that's close! Goes wide of the crease again and bangs it in on a hard length outside off. This one nips back in sharply and cuts Bennett in half, going just over the stumps as well.

0.4Slower ball, floated up full and outside off, Brian Bennett waits well this time and drives it straight to cover-point.

0.3Brings out the slower ball now, on a length and wide of the off stump, loose cut shot attempted by Bennett and he fails to connect.

0.2Another sharp inswinger from Naveen, very full and darting in from outside off, Bennett squeezes it out into the off side.

0.1Oh, a bit of sharp swing already! Wide of the wicket and hones in an inswinging yorker onto off and middle, Brian Bennett just about manages to get an inside edge onto the pads.