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Mehluli Sibanda at Queens Sports Club
OPENER Richmond Mutumbami’s career best 74 runs coupled with an unbeaten 49 from skipper Elton Chigumbura inspired Zimbabwe to a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan with two balls to spare in the third One-Day International cricket match played at Queens Sports Club yesterday. The win gives Zimbabwe a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series, with two remaining matches set for tomorrow and Saturday. Mutumbami, who was dropped twice in his 92-ball knock, was key in Zimbabwe’s run chase and smashed four fours and two sixes to better his previous best of 67 runs.

Chigumbura was left stranded one run short of his 20th ODI half century. Afghanistan, who won the toss for the third time in a row, opted to bat and posted 223 runs for eight wickets in 50 overs. Opening batsman Noor Ali Zadran was their highest scorer with 56 runs.

Zadran put on a 73-run second wicket partnership with Mohammad Nabi, who made 42 runs prior to being run out by left-arm spinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi. Left arm spinners Tendai Chisoro and Sean Williams had two wickets apiece while there was one wicket each for seamers Tinashe Panyangara, Luke Jongwe and another left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza.

Requiring 4.48 runs per over, Zimbabwe were scoring at four runs per over until they lost Chamunorwa Chibhabha (18) for handling the ball. Chibhabha becomes the first Zimbabwe batsman to be given out for handling the ball. Mutumbami was dropped on 36 by Shenwari off the bowling of Nabi. With 146 runs still needed to win, Zimbabwe were two down when Craig Ervine was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak for 11 runs.

Mutumbami reached his third ODI half century off 71 balls with four fours. He was again put down in the deep by Aftab Alam on 68 off the bowling of Hotak. After playing too many strokes, Mutumbami finally departed, becoming Hotak’s second victim, brilliantly caught by Rashid Khan. Williams and Chigumbura shared in a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket, a stand ended when Williams fell to Hotak, taken by Noor Ali Zadran.

Zimbabwe needed three runs to win in the last over bowled by Dawlat Zadran with Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza at the crease. Raza slammed the fourth delivery for six to seal the win for Zimbabwe. Chigumbura could not get his half century while Raza was not out on 29 runs. Hotak finished with three wickets for 47 runs in the 10 overs that he bowled.