Afghanistan v Zimbabwe 3rd T20I - Azmatullah Omarzai to destroy Zimbabwe again

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Afghanistan lead the three-match series 2-0 ahead of the final match.
Afghanistan won the first two matches by 37 runs and 19 runs.
Rashid Khan has taken seven wickets (ave 8.28) in his two matches in the series.

Azmatullah Omarzai hit 12 sixes in his 50-ball 116 against Zimbabwe (Getty Images).

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I Predictions

Afghanistan have secured the three-match T20I series after taking a 2-0 series lead, but Zimbabwe’s 202-run reply in the second match should offer them genuine encouragement, with both sides likely to carry confidence into the finale in Sharjah.

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I Predictions
Head-to-head
Afghanistan form
Zimbabwe Form
Team news

Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai hit 116 off 50 balls in the 2nd T20I.
Afghanistan's Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai has scored 52 & 52 in his 2 innings in the series.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has taken 14 wickets in his last 5 innings.
Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza scored 106* off 56 balls in the 2nd T20I.
Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl has scored 31, 31 & 32 in his last 3 knocks.
Zimbabwe's Kundai Matigimu has figures of 2/31 & 2/48 in his last 3 innings.
Zimbabwe have lost their last 5 T20I's against Afghanistan.

Head-to-head

Afghanistan have won the last five T20Is played between the two sides.

Afghanistan form

Afghanistan won the 1st T20I by 37 runs and the 2nd T20I by19 runs to secure the early series win.

Their top order has struggled for runs but their attack has closed Zimbabwe down in both matches to secure the wins and the series.

Azmatullah Omarzai (116 off 50) and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai (52 off 27) rescued the Afghanistan innings in the 2nd T20I. Abdollah Ahmadzai stepped up to take 2/34 to guide Afghanistan to the win.

Zimbabwe Form

Despite losing the opening two T20Is of the series Zimbabwe found form to push the hosts in a tight 2nd T20I clash.

Zimbabwe's attack will be weakened by the absence of Brad Evans for the final match of the series. The paceman has taken 2/34 and 2/40 in the first two matches of the series but was not available for the final match.

Zimbabwe need to tighten up their bowling after letting Afghanistan off the hook in the 2nd T20I after having the host reeling at 38/5 in the 2nd T20I only to concede a further 183 runs, which took the match just beyond their reach.

Team news

Ibrahim Zadran continues to captain Afghanistan, with Gurbaz, Omarzai, Rashid and Mujeeb central to the side. Sharjah has sometimes rewarded cutters and spin as matches progress, but this series is a warning against treating the venue as an automatic low-scoring ground. Thursday’s match produced 423 runs, with Omarzai and Raza each making centuries.

Afghanistan’s powerful lower middle order is a key difference between the teams, although a worn surface may bring Rashid and Mujeeb more prominently into the game.

Afghanistan (predicted XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Zimbabwe (predicted XI): Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Kundai Matigimu, Ernest Masuku, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani.

Verdict

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe

Afghanistan are strong favourites to secure a sixth straight T20I win over Zimbabwe. Azmatullah Omarzai is backed to score runs again while Rashid Khan is my pick to snap up at least two wickets.

Afghanistan Win

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.