Afghanistan completed a perfect 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe with a narrow 9-run victory in the third T20I at Harare Sports Club on November 2, 2025. Afghanistan posted 210/3 in their 20 overs before restricting Zimbabwe to 201 all out in the final over.
The match turned into a high-scoring thriller as both teams displayed attacking cricket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz led Afghanistan’s batting charge with a brilliant 92 off 48 balls, including eight fours and five sixes. He was well supported by captain Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 60 off 49 balls with seven boundaries. Zimbabwe fought hard in their chase with Brian Bennett (47), Sikandar Raza (51), and Ryan Burl (37) all making important contributions, but the total proved too steep.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo full scorecard
Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 210/3 | 20 | 3 | Won by 9 runs |
| Zimbabwe | 201 | 20 | 10 | Lost |
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | Batsman | 92 runs off 48 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes) |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | Batsman | 60 runs off 49 balls (7 fours) |
| Sediqullah Atal | Afghanistan | Batsman | 35* off 15 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | Batsman | 51 runs off 29 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Ryan Burl | Zimbabwe | Batsman | 37 runs off 15 balls (5 sixes) |
| Abdollah Ahmadzai | Afghanistan | Bowler | 3 wickets for 42 runs |
Sources: ESPNcricinfo full scorecard
Key Moments
- Opening partnership magic: Gurbaz and Zadran put on 159 runs for the first wicket, giving Afghanistan a strong foundation
- Gurbaz’s explosive innings: The wicketkeeper-batsman smashed 92 off just 48 balls at a strike rate of 191.66 before falling to a stunning catch by Sikandar Raza in the 16th over
- Zimbabwe’s poor start: The hosts lost both openers cheaply, with Dion Myers run out for 5 and Brendan Taylor caught for 4, leaving them at 19/2
- Raza-Bennett partnership: The pair added 85 runs for the third wicket to bring Zimbabwe back into the contest
- Burl’s blitz: Ryan Burl kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive with a quickfire 37 off 15 balls, hitting five sixes
- Final over drama: Afghanistan sealed the win when Abdollah Ahmadzai dismissed Richard Ngarava on the last ball of the match
Match Analysis
Afghanistan showed their T20 dominance throughout the series. Ibrahim Zadran captained the side in place of the rested Rashid Khan, with Azmatullah Omarzai also missing from the lineup. The opening partnership between Gurbaz and Zadran proved decisive, as they attacked Zimbabwe’s bowlers from the start.
Brad Evans was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers with 2/33, dismissing both set batsmen. Richard Ngarava went wicketless despite conceding 40 runs in his four overs.
Zimbabwe’s chase was always challenging after the early setbacks. Despite brave efforts from Raza, Bennett, and Burl, they couldn’t maintain the required run rate of over 10 per over. Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/29), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/30), Fareed Ahmad (2/38), and Abdollah Ahmadzai (3/42) shared the wickets for Afghanistan.
The series result highlights Afghanistan’s strength in T20 cricket and Zimbabwe’s ongoing struggles in the format.
What’s Next
With this comprehensive 3-0 series victory, Afghanistan will return home with confidence ahead of their upcoming assignments. The team showed depth and character throughout the tour, winning convincingly despite resting key players in the final match.
For Zimbabwe, the whitewash extends their difficult period in T20 cricket. They will need to regroup quickly and address their batting inconsistencies. The hosts showed promise in patches but couldn’t sustain pressure against a quality Afghanistan side.