SportsPosted at: Oct 24 2026 5:04PM


Afghanistan boost CWC27 build-up with stellar tri-series win

Sharjah, Oct 24 (UNI) Afghanistan continued their confident run in the tri-series with another remarkable win, this time in the final against Zimbabwe.
With less than an year to go for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, Afghanistan have continued to impress as a team, while also fielding younger talent such as Bilal Sami and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.
Sikandar Raza elected to bat first, but Zimbabwe's batting never got going, with Raza (68) and Ryan Burl (31), the only batters to show some resistance in the middle-order.
A sharp opening spell from Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai helped Afghanistan gain early advantage, leaving Zimbabwe tottering at 26/3 in the seventh over.
Bilal Sami removed the experienced Brendan Taylor (9) to further dent the Chevrons, before Raza and Burl stitched together a 60-run stand.
However, floodgates opened in the 27th over when Burl was caught by Bilal off Mohammad Nabi's bowling. Along with Rashid Khan, Nabi ran through the Zimbabwean lower order.
Rashid was the pick of the bowlers with his 3/41, with Bilal (2/27), Farooqi (2/41) and Nabi (2/25) picking two apiece.
Chasing a target of 170, Ibrahim Zadran led the way in early overs, unleashing an array of attractive strokes to get Afghanistan going.
After that, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backed his partner, opening his arms to power Afghanistan towards a win. The batter fell in the 10th over, with his team placed at 68.
Zimbabwe bowled with greater discipline from overs 11-20, picking up Sediqullah Atal (6) while 30 runs were added. But with an asking rate of close to two, Afghanistan batters could afford to play defensively and close in on the target.
Skipper Rahmat Shah partnered Zadran as Afghanistan inched closer to the target before the batters opened their arms in the 27th over, hitting two boundaries off Raza.
Wessly Madhevere eventually accounted for Rahmat (43) but Afghanistan managed to seal the chase in 35th over mark. Zadran remained unbeaten on 70.
Zimbabwe had won the first game of the tri-series, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs on the back of Craig Ervine (93) and Brendan Taylor's (81) fabulous efforts.
The next two matches of the series saw Afghanistan show clinical brilliance as they secured comprehensive wins over Zimbawe (by 158 runs) and Bangladesh (by seven wickets) to secure their spot in the final. Rashid Khan played a starring role in these wins with eight wickets across the two games.
Afghanistan will now go up against Zimbabwe in a three-game T20I series followed by a two-game Test series. All of these games will be played in Sharjah.
UNI BM
Tags: #Afghanistan boost CWC27 build-up with stellar tri-series win
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