Afghanistan completed a dominant 3–0 series sweep over Zimbabwe after winning the third and final T20 International by nine runs at Harare Sports Club. The final match turned into a high-scoring contest, with both teams showing aggressive batting, but Afghanistan held their nerve in the closing overs to secure the victory.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted 210 for three. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played the standout innings of the match, scoring 92 runs off just 48 balls with a mix of boundaries and powerful sixes. Captain Ibrahim Zadran added stability with 60 from 49 deliveries, while Sediqullah Atal’s late surge of 35 from only 15 balls helped Afghanistan finish strong.
Zimbabwe showed strong intent during the chase. Brian Bennett made 47 from 31 balls, and captain Sikandar Raza kept hopes alive with a quick 51 off 29 deliveries. Ryan Burl added late acceleration with 37 from 15 balls. Despite these efforts, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 201 in their 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s bowlers held their composure in tight moments. Abdollah Ahmadzai led with three wickets for 42 runs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad picked up two wickets each. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi also claimed one wicket each. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans took two wickets but struggled to contain the scoring.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings. Ibrahim Zadran earned the Player of the Series award for his consistent run-scoring across all three matches.
The win highlights Afghanistan’s continued growth and consistency in T20 cricket, while Zimbabwe will look to make improvements in both bowling discipline and maintaining partnerships under pressure.
