Afghanistan clinched the ODI tri-series title in the UAE with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the final. The win capped an unblemished campaign for the Afghans, who successfully chased a modest target of 170 in just 34.3 overs. The tone for the match was set early by the Afghan bowling attack, which dismantled the Zimbabwean lineup for 169 runs in 43.3 overs.
Zimbabwe’s innings faced immediate pressure as Fazalhaq Farooqi struck early, removing Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tafadzwa Tsiga, while Azmatullah Omarzai claimed the wicket of Brian Bennett. With Bilal Sami dismissing Brendan Taylor, the side slumped to 55 for 4. Although Sikandar Raza anchored the innings with a hard-fought 68—marking his 27th ODI fifty—and Ryan Burl contributed 31 runs, the lower order struggled to build significant partnerships. Mohammad Nabi proved instrumental, securing two wickets and achieving a milestone 300th international scalp by stumping Wessly Madhevere. Rashid Khan ultimately stifled the tail, finishing with 3-41, despite a late 32-run resistance from Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza. He eventually fell for a 21-ball nine to Azmatullah Omarzai. Reducing Zimbabwe to 26 for 3 in the seventh over, farooqi had Tadiwanashe Marumani bowled before Bennett’s departure and also sent Tafadzwa Tsiga back cheaply. Who edged an innocuous delivery behind, as Zimbabwe slipped to 55 for 4, sami then accounted for Brendan Taylor. After Zimbabwe opted to bat, Brian Bennett struck a couple of boundaries but was otherwise kept quiet. His 27th in ODIs, while Burl chipped in with 31 off 45 balls, raza brought up a hard-earned fifty. Having Burl caught at deep square leg, their 60-run partnership offered Zimbabwe a way back before Nabi broke it. With wickets tumbling at the other end, Raza attempted to hold the innings together.
In response, Afghanistan’s openers initiated a brisk chase, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz hitting four boundaries and two sixes during his 31-ball 36 before being caught off Newman Nyamhuri. While Sediqullah Atal departed cheaply, Ibrahim Zadran held the innings together with a composed, unbeaten 70 off 96 deliveries. His partnership with Rahmat Shah, who contributed a steady 43, steadied the chase despite Nyamhuri’s efforts.
The duo added 82 runs for the third wicket before Wessly Madhevere took a brilliant one-handed catch to dismiss Rahmat. However, the game was already firmly in Afghanistan’s control. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Zadran to steer the team home, sealing the result in the 35th over when he found the boundary against Madhevere. The victory highlighted Afghanistan’s superior consistency throughout the tournament. The third wicket pair added 82 before Rahmat’s 63-ball stay ended when Wessly Madhevere pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at mid-wicket.
Brief scores summarized the match: Zimbabwe were bowled out for 169 in 43.3 overs, with Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 68 and Ryan Burl adding 31. Rashid Khan led the bowlers with 3-41, supported by Mohammad Nabi’s 2-25. Afghanistan responded with 170/3 in 34.3 overs, led by Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 79 (revised from 70 during match progression) and Rahmat Shah’s 43, handing them a decisive seven-wicket win. Negotiating Afghanistan’s disciplined attack and gradually finding opportunities to score, raza and Ryan Burl began the repair job. Brief scores: Zimbabwe 169 all-out in 43.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 68, Ryan Burl 31; Rashid Khan 3-41, Mohammad Nabi 2-25) lost to Afghanistan 170/3 in 34.3 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 79*, Rahmat Shah 43; Newman Nyamhuri 2-30).
