Afghanistan cricket association

Harare Sports Club: Opener Sediqullah Atal slammed his maiden ODI century while off-spinner A.M. Ghazanfar picked 3-9 as Afghanistan secured their biggest win in the 50-over format by runs with a 232-run win over Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

Put into batting first on a sunny Thursday morning, Atal and his opening partner Abdul Malik hit 104 and 84 respectively while sharing a 191-run opening stand to take Afghanistan to 286/6 in their 50 overs. In reply, led by Ghazanfar, Zimbabwe were unable to get going and were bundled out for just 54 in 17.5 overs. It’s also the joint-lowest Afghanistan have dismissed any side in their history of ODI cricket so far.

Afghanistan now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the first ODI abandoned due to rain. They would be pleased with how Atal and Malik stepped up for the team, considering Ibrahim Zadran is still recovering ankle injury while Rahmanullah Gurbaz was ruled out of the ongoing tour due to a quadriceps injury.