ZIM vs AFG 3rd T20I Commentary - Harare (14 June 2022)

Shorter ball, wide of off. Tendai Chatara cuts it past point. Single taken!

A length ball, around off. Ainsley Ndlovu shuffles across and tries to scoop this but he manages to get only a glove on it. The ball goes towards the keeper and the batters sneak in a run.

Outside off, fuller ball. Tendai Chatara slices it past point for a single. 

Pitches it up again, around middle and off. Ainsley Ndlovu drags it with the inner half of his bat towards deep mid-wicket for a brace. 

Leg bye! A length ball, angling in down leg. Ainsley Ndlovu looks to pull this away but he misses and gets hit on his thigh pad. The ball rolls onto the deck and the batters sneak in a leg bye!

A shorter ball, around off. Tendai Chatara slaps it wide of mid off and takes a single. Afghanistan win by 35 runs!

A yorker-length delivery, outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu fails to squeeze this one out. 

Tad shorter, around the hips. Ainsley Ndlovu flicks it towards square leg for a brace. 

Shorter ball, wide of off. Ainsley Ndlovu shuffles across and leaves it alone. 

Very full, around off. Ainsley Ndlovu drives and finds the fielder at cover. 

FOUR! A rare boundary for Zimbabwe! Back of a length, around middle and leg. Ainsley Ndlovu swivels and pulls it gently towards deep square leg for a boundary. 

Swing and a miss! A length ball, outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu swings his bat at it but he fails to get any connection on it. 43 needed off the final 6 balls. 

In the air...and safe! A shorter ball, around off. Ainsley Ndlovu looks to pull this but he gets a top edge towards third man. The fielder there collects the ball on a bounce. One run taken!

Outside off, shorter ball. Tendai Chatara stays in his crease and guides it towards third man for another single. 

Leg bye! A yorker-length delivery, angling down leg. Ainsley Ndlovu looks to flick this but he misses. A stifled appeal for LBW, but that was sliding down leg. 

Swing and a miss! A shorter ball, outside off. Tendai Chatara hangs back and tries to cut this away towards third man but he misses. 

Back of a length, around middle. Tendai Chatara miscues his pull shot in the vacant square leg region for a single. 

Fuller ball, outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu drives it towards mid off for a quick single. 49 off 12 needed!

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Another batter walks back to the hut! Fazalhaq Farooqi comes back into the attack and strikes straightaway! A shorter ball, around middle and leg. Ryan Burl pulls this but the ball goes off the top edge and towards mid-wicket. Fazalhaq Farooqi runs to his left and takes a good catch. Afghanistan are one wicket away now!

A yorker-length delivery, outside off. Ainsley Ndlovu tries to squeeze it away but he misses. 

Another swing and a miss! Full, outside off. Afsar Zazai tries to go over cover but he misses.

Full, angling down leg. Ainsley Ndlovu flicks it towards square leg for a single. 

On a length, outside off. Tendai Chatara dabs it towards third man for a single. 

Yorker-length delivery, around middle. Ainsley Ndlovu digs it out towards long on for a single. 54 needed off 18 balls now!

A wrong'un, shorter, outside off. Ryan Burl cuts it towards point. 

Tosses it up, full, around off. Ryan Burl pushes it down to long off for a single.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! The magician, Rashid Khan has done the trick here! He grabs his first wicket and Zimbabwe have lost their eighth now. A googly from Rashid Khan! Pitches it up, this one lands around middle and spins in. Luke Jongwe tries to flick without any foot movement and he misses. The ball goes on to hit the leg pole. 

Outside off, fuller ball. Ainsley Ndlovu blocks it out.

Another wrong'un, around middle, fuller ball. Ainsley Ndlovu leans forward and misses and he gets hit on the pads.

An appeal for LBW, but turned down! Another googly, full, around middle and leg. Ainsley Ndlovu leans to block this but he misses and gets hit on his front pad. That was sliding down leg. 

Shorter ball, spinning in, around middle. Ryan Burl flicks it to square leg for a single. 

Tosses it up, shorter ball, around off. Luke Jongwe blocks it out off the back foot. 

Full, around off, slower through the air. Luke Jongwe presses forward and drives it towards cover.

Much straighter, quicker, shorter. Luke Jongwe works it away to mid-wicket for a single. 

Fuller ball, around middle. Ryan Burl presses forward and defends it out.

Shorter ball, spinning in around middle and leg. Ryan Burl clips it towards square leg for a single. 

Beaten! Lovely delivery! This one turns in, around off, fuller ball. Luke Jongwe leans forward to drive this but he gets beaten on the inside edge.

Tosses it up, full, around off. Luke Jongwe presses forward and pushes it to mid-wicket for a single. 

Fuller, aroound middle. Ryan Burl defends it out.

A googly now, shorter ball, outside off. Ryan Burl looks to cut this away but he misses. 

Loopy ball, full, around middle. Ryan Burl pushes it back to the bowler. 

Very full, loopy one, around middle. Ryan Burl drives it towards long on for a single. 

Fuller, loopy ball, around off. Ryan Burl drives it firmly through cover for a brace. 

Tosses this one up, full, around off. Ryan Burl pushes it towards cover. 

Very full, around middle. Ryan Burl presses forward and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. 

A low full toss, on the pads. Luke Jongwe clips it towards square leg for a single. 

A tossed up ball, outside off, spinning in. Ryan Burl presses forward and tries to drive this but the ball goes off the inside edge it bounced near his boots and lobs up after hitting his pads. Afsar Zazai grabs the ball and appeals for a catch. The replay shows that there was clear bounce there!

Fuller, around off. Ryan Burl blocks it out. 

Outside off, shorter ball, this one stays low as well. Ryan Burl tries to cut this away but he misses. 

Tosses it up, full, outside off. Ryan Burl taps it towards point for a quick single. 

Quicker, full, around middle. Luke Jongwe pushes it to left of the bowler and takes a single. 

Flighted ball, full, around middle. Ryan Burl pushes it back to Rashid Khan.

Tosses it up, full, around off. Ryan Burl lunges forward and pushes it towards mid-wicket. 

Googly, shorter ball, around middle. Luke Jongwe blocks it out.

Very full, tosses it up, around off. Clive Madande pushes it back to the bowler. 

Wide! Down the leg side. Clive Madande leaves it alone. Wide called! 

  Wide of off this time, fuller ball, Clive Madande presses forward and tries to drive this but he misses. Afsar Zazai collects the ball and whips the bails off. An appeal for a stumping. The replays show that Clive Madande's back foot was well in. 

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Noor Ahmad gets three wickets in three overs! What a spell from the young man! A loopy ball, full, around off. Clive Madande gets down on his knee and sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (sub) there, jumps to hs right and takes a sharp catch.

Wide of off, shorter ball, around off. Donald Tiripano looks to cut this away but he misses. 

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Zimbabwe are 7 down now! Noor Ahmad has now grabbed 4 wickets on his T20I debut! What a start to his T20I career. A peach by him. A loopy ball, spinning in, around middle. Donald Tiripano presses forward and tries to block this one. But the ball turns in and sneaks in the gap between bat and pad to knock the stumps over. Zimbabwe fall in deep trouble now!

Fuller, loopy ball, around off. Luke Jongwe dabs it towards third man.

Full, outside off. Ryan Burl lunges forward and pushes it towards cover. 

A shorter ball, around off. Ryan Burl stays back and tries to block this but the ball goes off his inside edge towards short fine leg. He leaves his crease for a single, but he is sent back at the end. A throw at the keepers end but Ryan Burl dives and makes his ground.

Slower through the air, full, around middle. Ryan Burl leans and flicks it towards square leg for a single. 

Tosses it up, full, around off. Clive Madande blocks it out towards cover.

Another loopy ball, around middle. Clive Madande clips it to mid-wicket for a single. 

FOUR! A valuable boundary for Zimbabwe! A shorter ball, coming into the pads. Ryan Burl flicks it fine towards fine leg for a boundary.

A fuller ball, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani presses forward and flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. 

Tosses it up, full, around middle. Clive Madande leans and blocks it out.

A googly, around middle and leg, fuller ball. Clive Madande gets an inside edge towards square leg for a single. 

TWO LEG BYES! Full again, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani looks to reverse-sweep this but he misses. The ball hits his pads and goes towards square leg. Two taken! 

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Noor Ahmad gets another wicket and Zimbabwe have lost half their side now! A fuller ball, spinning, around off. Tadiwanashe Marumani gets down his knee and tries to sweep this but the ball goes off the inside edge back onto the stumps. Afghanistan on top here! 

Loopy ball, around middle and off. Ryan Burl presses forward and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. 

Tosses it up, full, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it to long on for a single.

On middle, blocked out.

OUT! STUMPED! It's the spinners for Afghanistan as well! Zimbabwe are throwing it away here. They are in trouble now! Sikandar Raza walks back without scoring. A big wicket for Afghanistan! Sharafuddin Ashraf sees Sikandar Raza stepping down and he serves it down the leg side. Sikandar Raza daces down the track and tries to flick but he misses. Afsar Zazai collect the ball and whips the bails off in a flash. Sikandar Raza was well out of his crease. Clive Madande is the new man in.

Tosses it up, full, around off. Clive Madande blocks it towards the off side. 

Drifting in around middle and leg. Clive Madande misses his flick.

Yorker-length delivery now, around middle. Clive Madande does well to dig it out. 

Shorter ball, angling down leg. Clive Madande hangs back and tries to flick this but he misses and gets hit on his pads. 

OUT! RUN OUT! Bull's eye and Afghanistan have got their second wicket at a good time. Another set batter walks back! A shorter ball, around off. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it off the back foot towards point and leaves his crease. Nijat Masood collects the ball and throws it with his right hand directly at the striker's end. Innocent Kaia was short of his crease. Craig Ervine walks out to bat now.

Fuller ball now, around middle. Craig Ervine pushes it towards mid on and takes a single. 

Beaten now! Spinning away, fuller ball, outside off. Tadiwanashe Marumani looks to block this but he gets beaten on the outside edge. 

Shorter ball, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it back to the bowler. 

Tosses it up, full, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani knocks it to long on for a single.

OUT! LBW! Noor Ahmad strikes in his first over and Zimbabwe have wickets in quick succession! A peach of a delivery! A googly! Fuller ball, spinning in, around middle. Craig Ervine leans to block this but he misses as the ball turns in. He gets hit on his front pad and the umpire raises his finger immediately after the appeal.

A quicker one to begin with, around middle and leg. Tadiwanashe Marumani makes room and looks to cut this away but he misses. 

Loopy ball, full, around off. Tadiwanashe Marumani leans and drives it towards mid off. Single taken! 

Wide! Down the leg side. Innocent Kaia looks to flick but he misses. Wide called!

Full, around middle. Innocent Kaia blocks it out.

Shorter ball, around off. Innocent Kaia pushes it off the back foot towards cover.

Drifting in on the pads, fuller ball. Innocent Kaia flicks it towards square leg.

Shorter ball, around off. Innocent Kaia pushes it back to the bowler. Zimbabwe are 40 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay! 

Wide! Down the leg side, full in length. Innocent Kaia looks to flick but he misses. Wide called! 

A length ball, angling in around middle and leg. Innocent Kaia flicks it towards square leg. 

FOUR! Crunched! Width on offer now, fuller ball. Innocent Kaia leans and drives this one through extra-cover for a boundary. 

A yorker now, on middle. Innocent Kaia digs it out. 

Leg bye! An appeal for LBW, but turned down! A length ball, angling in, down the leg side. Innocent Kaia looks to flick this but he misses and gets hit on his pads. The ball rolls towards square leg and the batters sneak in a leg bye!

FOUR! Another boundary in the over! On a length, outside off. Tadiwanashe Marumani opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for a boundary. 

A fuller ball, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it wide of mid on for a single. 

OUT! TAKEN! Sharafuddin Ashraf strikes on his very first ball! Much-needed wicket for Afghanistan as Wesley Madhevere was looking dangerous! He begins with a fuller ball, slower through the air, around middle. Wesley Madhevere gets down on his knee and slog-sweeps it straight to deep square leg. Noor Ahmad there takes a good catch. 

Tosses it up, full, around off. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it towards cover.

Full again, outside off. Tadiwanashe Marumani looks to reverse-sweep this but he misses. 

Shorter ball, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes it back to the bowler. 

PUT DOWN! Oh, dear! Afghanistan had another opportunity here! Another fuller ball, around middle. Tadiwanashe Marumani slog-sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket. Nijat Masood there gets under the ball, gets his hands to it but he spills it out. Two taken! 

Full, loopy ball, outside off. Tadiwanashe Marumani drives and finds the fielder at cover. 

Quick single! A shorter ball, outside off. Innocent Kaia taps it towards point and scampers across to the other end. 

Angling in on a length, around middle and leg. Wesley Madhevere tucks it towards square leg for a single. 

Change of angle now! Fazalhaq Farooqi goes 'round the wicket, length ball,  outside off. Innocent Kaia pushes it off the front foot towards mid off for a single. 

A fuller ball from over the wicket, outside off. Wesley Madhevere dabs it towards point.

Pitches it up, outside off. Wesley Madhevere drives it towards mid off and takes a single. 

Wide! Too full, and wide of off. Innocent Kaia leaves it alone. Wide called! 

On a length, around off. Innocent Kaia gets behind the line of the ball and blocks it towards the off side. 

No ball! A length ball, angling in, on a length. Innocent Kaia tries to flick this but he misses and gets hit high on his pads. Nijat Masood has overstepped on his very first delivery! A Free Hit to follow!

SIX! BANG! Innocent Kaia takes full advantage of the Free Hit! Very short on this occasion, outside off. Innocent Kaia pulls this and pulls this brilliantly over deep mid-wicket for a bigggie. 

Bye! Shorter, wide of off, shaping away. Innocent Kaia hangs back and tries to cut this away but he misses. The keeper fails to grab the ball as well. The batters sneak in a bye! 

MISFIELD AND FOUR! Luck going Zimbabwe's way for now! A shorter ball, around middle. Wesley Madhevere gets on top of the bounce and pulls it wide of square leg. Noor Ahmad runs to his left, and slides to stop the ball but he fails to do so. Boundary! 

FOUR! Oh, shot! That has class written all over it! An overpitched delivery, around off. Wesley Madhevere presents the full face of the bat and drives it straight down the ground for a boundary. Back-to-back boundaries! 

Length ball, around middle. Wesley Madhevere defends it out.

Drops it short again, around middle. Wesley Madhevere pulls it towards deep square leg. This time Noor Ahmad slides and stops the ball. Two taken! 18 runs off the over! 

Good ball to begin with! A length ball, shaping away, outside off. Wesley Madhevere looks to push this on the off side but he gets beaten on the outside edge. 

Another beauty! A similar delivery! Outside off, swinging away on a length. Wesley Madhevere once again tries to play this on the off side but he misses. 

Angling in now, on a length, around middle and leg. Wesley Madhevere tucks it through square leg for a brace. Zimbabwe and Wesley Madhevere are underway!

Lovely delivery! Right in the blockhole! A yorker, on middle. Wesley Madhevere does well to dig it out.

Another yorker, around middle. Wesley Madhevere gets an inside edge onto his boot while trying to squeeze it out. 

Swinging away, outside off, tad fuller. Wesley Madhevere looks to drive this but he misses. Good over from Fazalhaq Farooqi!