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Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) net bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who plays for Zimbabwe internationally, picked up four wickets against Afghanistan, but his efforts were unable to stop their opponents from scoring 276 runs, a target that proved unassailable by the Zimbabweans.
Rahmat Shah's 94 runs and Mohammad Nabi's four wickets helped Afghanistan beat hosts Zimbabwe by 60 runs in their first ODI in Harare. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi also smashed hit 88 runs as they put on a massive total against their opponents. But on the other hand, Muzarabani picked up four of the five wickets that the Afghans lost.
The duo of Shahidi and Rahmat added 181 runs for the third wicket. Rahmat's innings of 94 runs off 120 balls included seven fours and three sixes. He was adjudged man of the match. Shahidi played an innings of 88 runs in 104 balls with 13 fours to his name.
Both Shah and Shahidi were sent to the pavilion by fast bowler Blessing Mujarbani, who took four wickets for 52 runs. In the Indian Premier League 2022, this player is making a strong return to international cricket after playing a role as a net bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants captained by KL Rahul.
In response to their 276, Zimbabwe never looked comfortable while batting. Off-spinner Nabi, who was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took four wickets for 34 runs. All-rounder Sikandar Raza reduced the margin of defeat by playing an innings of 67 runs but star leg-spinner Rashid Khan took his wicket.
