Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe AFG and ZIM in UAE, 3 T20Is, 2026, Full Score Card

SIX! Game, set, match! Azmatullah Omarzai finishes things off in style. Afghanistan win by 7 wickets and seal the series 3-0. Vincent Masekesa bowls a half-tracker on middle. Omarzai needs no second invitation as he rocks back and whacks it over the wide long on fence, almost into the roof for a biggie.

Well, one more over then. Vincent Masekesa is brought into the attack as Afghanistan need 5 runs.

Good length, on middle and off, Ibrahim Zadran blocks it out.

On a length and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran tucks it to mid-wicket.

Back of a length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai steers it through backward point for a single.

EDGED BUT DROPPED! Blessing Muzarabani hits the deck hard and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away and swings across the line hard but gets an outisde edge due to the extra bounce. It flies behind, and Blessing already start celebrating, but Tadiwanashe Marumani fails to grab it, despite getting two goes at it.

Dug into the surface, on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai stands tall and swats it wide of mid on for a brace. Afghanistan need just one big hit now.

Short of a length and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai dabs it down to point.

Just 8 runs needed. So this could possibly be the final over of this T20I series. Blessing Muzarabani (2-0-28-1) is back on.

FOUR! Ibrahim Zadran is in a hurry here! Back to the fuller length and around middle. Ibrahim Zadran gets right underneath it and pumps it over the bowler's head for the fourth boundary of the over.

FOUR! Up and over! Ernest Masuku lands this on a good length and around off. Ibrahim Zadran extends his arms to reach out and lofts it over mid off for four more runs.

Full again and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai drills it away to mid on.

Pitched up and on leg, Ibrahim Zadran clips it through square leg for a single.

FOUR! Powered away! Ernest Masuku pulls his length back just a bit, on off. Ibrahim Zadran stays firm in his crease, gets under it and thumps it down the ground to the long on fence for another boundary. Afghanistan are almost there, needing just 18 runs to win.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Fuller in length and on middle, angling into the pads. Ibrahim Zadran picks it up nicley and whips it to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

End of the Powerplay. Afghanistan are 54/3 and they need just 26 more runs to win. At the same stage, Zimbabwe were 37/3.

Pace off, on a length and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Much fuller and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai drills it away to mid off.

Back of a length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai stabs it out to short cover.

A bit of a halt as the ball seems to have sailed out of the stadium. There is also a concern for Omarzai, who looks uncomfortable, with the physio coming out to attend to him. He appears to be dealing with some discomfort in his lower back, but after a few stretches, he is good to continue. Meanwhile, a gentleman on the road relays the ball back into the stadium.

SIX! That is outta here! Newman Nyamhuri lands this short of a length and outside off. Azmatullah Omarzai gets the chance to free his arms and takes no half-measures, slashing it over the deep point fence for a biggie. He hit it so hard that the ball went out onto the highway behind the stadium.

Beaten! Good length and just on off, angling away. Azmatullah Omarzai has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller in length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai strides out and drives it firmly through covers for a couple of runs.

Two wides! That is a horror delivery! Newman Nyamhuri completely loses his grip and serves this full and way, way outside off, angling further away too. Ibrahim Zadran is nowhere near to play at that and the keeper, Tadiwanashe Marumani, moves a long way to his right and just about gets a hand on it to make a half-stop. A bye taken and a wide called.

Double strike for Zimbabwe. Azmatullah Omarzai is the next man in.

OUT! LBW! Well, something for the Chevrons to smile on a difficult evening, as Masuku strikes twice in quick succession. He is absolutely delighted. Afghanistan are 44/3, needing 36 more runs. A fractionally fuller delivery, aimed at the stumps. Noor goes onto the back foot looking to work it away, but misjudges the line and is struck high on the back pad. Masuku roars in appeal, and this time the umpire has no hesitation in raising his finger.

Play and a miss! A good-length delivery outside off. Noor reaches for it away from his body, but the extra bounce takes the ball past the outside edge. Good areas by Masuku.

The next batter in is Noor ul Rahman.

OUT! SIMPLE CATCH! Masuku with another wicket in his first over. Short of a length, outside the off stump. But it seemingly holds on the surface and arrives a fraction late to the batter with a tennis-ball bounce. Atal, already prepared for a flashy drive through the off side, goes through the shot early, and chips it straight to backward point, where Madhevere takes a simple catch with a reverse cup, over his right shoulder. Afghanistan are 44/2, needing 36 runs.

On a good length, on leg, Atal rocks back and knocks it to mid on.

In-between length, on the pads, Zadran rides the bounce and glances it wide of short fine leg for a quick single.

Pitched full and angling on middle and leg, Zadran whips it through mid on and mid-wicket. Blessing Muzarabani chases it before the ropes as the ball loses its steam in the outfield. Two more added.

Ernest Masuku comes in as the first bowling change.

Short of a good length, around off, Sediqullah stands tall and goes for the pull shot but the ball slightly holds on the surface and he ends up miscuing it in the air. Manages to clear mid-wicket and the ball plugs in the outfield. Raza sprints after it from the inner circle and hunts it down. Two runs taken. Just 39 runs needed to win!

Hits the length hard, outside off, Atal rocks back and steers it to backward point.

Good length, angled down leg, Atal misses the leg glance and the keeper dives to his right to grab it behind the stumps. No wide given, so maybe it brushed off Atal's thigh pad en route.

FOUR! Finds the gap with precision once again! Hits the deck hard, does Newman, outside off, Sediqullah Atal gets on top of the bounce and nails the cover drive through cover-point gap for for more runs.

Back of a length, nipping away with bounce, outside off, Atal flashes hard at it for a square cut, but gets a thick outside edge. The ball rolls to deep third where, think it's Wessly Madhevere, who runs across, and dives to his right to save a couple of runs.

Length-delivery, on top of middle, Atal hops on the toes and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Back of a length, around off, Ibrahim hangs back and stabs it to cover.

Length on middle, Atal tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Gloriously struck! Nagging length, outside off, rearing up from the surface. Atal rides the bounce and punches it firmly through the cover gap for a boundary. A cracking shot.

SIX! Just gets enough distance! A bouncer by Blessing, on the bodyline. Sediqullah Atal picks the length early, gets into a good, balanced position before hooking it over deep backward square leg. Newman Nyamhuri runs to his right from deep fine leg, but can only watch it sail over the fence.

Length-delivery, outside off, Zadran stands tall and punches it to the left of extra cover for one more.

Full ball outside the off stump, Atal dances down the track and knocks it to the left of mid off for a single.

Full and outside off, Zadran strides across and drives it straight towards the man at cover.

Fullish ball, on the leg stump, Zadran flicks it crisply along the ground to the left of deep square leg for two more.

Wide! Keeps slanting it across the right-hander, on a length. Ibrahim opts to leave as the ball nips away and breaches the tramline.

A length ball on the stumps. Ibrahim steps out and mistimes it to the right of Raza at mid off. Raza gets across but loses his footing, allowing the ball past him, before the mid on fielder is forced into the chase. Two runs taken.

And again! A bit of a lateral movement on this one. On a good length, angled across the off stump line, Ibrahim Zadran wafts at it loosely without moving his feet and is beaten all ends up on the outside edge. Another appeal from the keeper and Newman also joins in, but the umpire shakes his head. Great start by Nyamhuri.

Beaten! A ripper by Newman! Fuller than a length, on the off stump, Zadran draws the front foot forward to drive it through covers, but the ball lands, nips away and zips past his outside edge. A slight appeal for caught behind, but not much of an enthusiasm shown by the bowler.

Back of a length, on the fourth stump. Zadran crisply punches it away off the back foot, but finds the fielder at extra cover.

End of an eventful first over of this chase. Newman Nyamhuri will share the attack.

Quite an opening over, this. A wicket and 15 runs off it. A touch fuller than the previous ball, outside off, Atal plays with a straight bat and drives it to cover-point.

Good length, outside off and deviating away, Atal hangs back and defends towards point.

Mohammad Akram's little show is over. Sediqullah Atal walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! MISTIMED AND CAUGHT! Muzarabani answers back in style. He generates extra bounce by banging the ball hard into the pitch, around the off stump. Mohammad Akram hangs back and premeditates the pull shot, but the ball gets big on him, and he slices it off the top edge. The ball bobbles up and Raza takes a simple catch at extra cover. Afghanistan are 15/0, chasing 80 runs.

Length-delivery, on middle and leg, nipping back in, Akram clears his front leg and pulls it off the top edge. But the ball lands in the vacant deep mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Up and over off the edge! Short of a length, outside off, kicking up off the surface. Akram hangs back to cut it over point and flashes hard at it. Gets a thick outside edge and the ball once again flies over the first slip fielder and to the boundary behind.

FOUR! Another loosener and that's been put away! Back of a length, around middle and leg, Mohammad Akram heaves it over mid-wicket, off the inner half of the bat for a boundary.

NO BALL AND FOUR! A wild delivery to start his spell on his 100th T20I game. Muzarabani oversteps and bowls a short ball outside off, Akram flashes and flashes hard to access the off side, but gets a massive outside edge and the ball flies over the leaping first slip fielder for a boundary. Free Hit to follow.

OUT! LBW! A maiden T20I fifer for Noor Ahmad to wrap things up here. Zimbabwe have been bundled out for just 79 runs. Noor bowls this flatter, full and on middle, skids through as well. Ernest Masuku gets stuck in his crease and plays all over a straight one, getting hit on the pads right in front of the stumps. An appeal goes up, and the umpire raises his finger right away. Noor is absolutely delighted and rushes straight to Rashid Khan to give him a hug before thanking the Almighty.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and on middle, angling in sharply. Ernest Masuku moves back to clip it away but misses and gets hit on the pads.

FOUR! Gets it away! Shorter in length and around middle. Ernest Masuku picks up the length early, rocks back and heaves it away to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

SWING AND A MISS! Slower ball around middle, Vincent Masekesa clears the front leg and looks to swing it away but misses. Another good over for Afghanistan.

No Ball! Slower ball on middle, Vincent Masekesa pushes it back to the bowler. Tarakhail has overstepped and a Free Hit will follow.

Tarakhail goes full and on middle, Masakesa presents a straight bat and solidly defends it back to the bowler.

On a length ball on off, Masekesa taps it to point.

Vincent Masekesa is the last man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another wicket goes down and Zimbabwe are staring down the barrel. Good-length ball on off, Muzarabani looks to smack it away but does so without moving his feet. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards third man, where Omarzai gets low to take the catch. He makes up for a dropped catch earlier on in the innings, and Zimbabwe are 74 for 9. Second wicket for Tarakhail in this game.

Good shot but no run! Full ball outside off, Muzarabani drills it away, but it goes towards mid off where the fielder collects it. A dot.

Length ball on middle, Masuku pushes it past the bowler and takes a quick single.

Pushed through, on a good length, on off. Muzarabani rocks back and drops his bat down on the ball.

Shorter and wider on off. Muzarabani dabs it to point.

Fractionally short, another googly, on middle. Masuku goes deep in the crease and plays around his pad as he works it behind square leg for a single.

Into the tail now. Ernest Masuku comes out to the middle.

OUT! CASTLED! You miss, I hit, says Noor Ahmad. Loopy ball, very full, on middle. Newman backs away, exposing all three stumps. He does not pick the googly and has a swing at the ball. It lands and spins away to go past the bat and crash into the middle stump. Wicket number 4 for Noor. Zimbabwe are now 8 down for 72.

Off the edge. Flighted up, on off. Blessing has a tentative push at the ball. it goes off the outer half wide of slip and the batters pick up a single.

Nearly another wicket! Very full, drifting in, on middle and leg. Newman steps inside the line and sweeps it hard behind square leg. The deep square leg fielder sprints to his right and gets rid of the ball quickly. The batters set off for the second before deciding against it. Blessing dives to get back home before the throw arrives.

Abdollah Ahmadzai bowls a yorker outside off, Newman squirts it to deep cover and takes a single to keep strike for the next over.

Short ball on middle, Newman Nyamhuri pulls it to deep mid-wicket. Rashid Khan gives chase and before he cleans it up, the batters take two runs.

Good-length ball on off, Newman Nyamhuri defends it to the point region for a dot.

FOUR! Newman Nyamhuri makes full use of the Free Hit! Shortish ball around off, Nyamhuri clears his front leg and smacks it through the extra cover region for a boundary.

NO BALL! Abdollah Ahmadzai apologises immediately to the batter. Good sportsmanship from the bowler. Ahmadzai bowls a beamer, Newman looks to duck but gets hit on the body. Ahmadzai goes immediately to the batter and shakes hands. No-ball given, and a Free Hit will follow.

Fullish ball on the middle stump line, Newman covers the line of the delivery and defends it onto the pitch.

On a length ball on off, Newman Nyamhuri defends it to the off side.

WIDE! Another delivery down the leg side from Ahmadzai, Newman looks to swing it away but misses. The umpire signals it a wide.

WIDE! Full ball down the leg side, Nyamhuri looks to flick but misses. Wide given.

OUT! TAKEN! No hat-trick but Noor Ahmad gets three in the over. He gives this one some more air, full and on middle and leg. Tadiwanashe Marumani gets his front foot out and tries to go big down the ground but gets no timing at all. It flies wide of long off, where Azmatullah Omarzai runs a long way to his left and dives to take a fantastic catch. Sediqullah Atal takes the celebrations up a notch, giving Noor a cheeky wrestling-style suplex. Noor hits the deck, but thankfully, it's all smiles and no harm done. Zimbabwe slip from 56/3 to 60/7.

No hat-trick! Short and around off, Newman Nyamhuri stays back and punches it through cover-point for one.

Newman Nyamhuri walks out to bat. A slip and a gully for the hat-trick ball.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Two in two for Noor Ahmad, and this is another excellent delivery. He tosses it up, full and on middle, just turn away a shy bit, and that is enough to deceive the batter. Tafadzwa Tsiga gets stuck in his crease and offers an angled bat to work it across the line, but gets an outside edge towards first slip, where Ibrahim Zadran takes a sharp catch. Zimbabwe are reeling at 59/6 now.

Tafadzwa Tsiga is in next.

OUT! STUMPED! Noor Ahmad picks up his first wicket with an absolute beauty. He dishes out a googly, full and on off, turning it away sharply. Wessly Madhevere gets drawn forward to push it away, but the ball spins past the outside edge. He also has to reach out in front and drags his back foot out of the crease. Noor ul Rahman collects and breaks the stumps quickly, with Madhevere never making his home back. Zimbabwe lose half their side now.

Referred upstairs for stumping. Noor ul Rahman is pretty confident.

Flatter, full and around off, Wessly Madhevere goes down for the reverse sweep, but gets nowhere near the ball and makes no contact.

Shorter in length and outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani tries to cut but chops it down to point for a single.

WIDE! Floated, full and on middle and leg, turns in a bit. Tadiwanashe Marumani looks to flick it away but misses. He loses his balance for a split second, and Noor ul Rahman breaks the stumps, but TM is safe.

Noor Ahmad comes back on with a change of ends.

On a length ball on off, Tadiwanashe Marumani taps it to the point region and takes a single to get off the mark.

DRINKS BREAK! Zimbabwe are going nowhere with their innings, and the wicket of Ryan Burl only makes the situation worse for them. This is not an easy surface to bat on, where batters can simply hit through the line. Afghanistan, be it the pacers or the spinners, have been clever in making use of the conditions and have made life difficult for the Zimbabwean batters. Tadiwanashe Marumani joins Wessly Madhevere out in the middle

OUT! LBW! Zimbabwe have lost a big wicket as Ryan Burl had started to look really good in the middle. He goes for 30, and Zimbabwe are now 56 for 4. Ahmadzai bowls a fuller delivery, angled in. Ryan Burl looks to flick it to the leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads. The Afghanistan players appeal, and the finger goes up. Rashid Khan must be a really happy man, as his attempt to make Burl lose his concentration has worked in his side's favour.

Slower ball on off, Burl looks to push it to the off side, it takes the inside half of the bat and goes back to the bowler.

EDGED AND FOUR! Streaky boundary, but Zimbabwe will take it! Fullish ball outside off, Burl looks to drive, but it takes the outside edge and goes towards the third man region for a boundary.

Excellent fielding! Full ball outside off, Burl creams it through the extra cover region. The fielder rushes to his left from deep cover and makes a diving stop to mop it up. Two runs taken.

Shortish ball on middle, Wesley drags it down to long on and crosses ends for a single.

Abdollah Ahmadzai has been brought into the attack.

Dragged back, outside off, Ryan Burl reaches out and stabs it out to extra cover.

Oh, hello! A few words exchanged, and Rashid Khan has clearly got under Ryan Burl’s skin. The left-hander is visibly irked, pointing and gesturing with his bat. The umpires step in to diffuse the situation.

Play and a miss! Rashid Khan floats it up, full and on off, turns in a bit. Ryan Burl gets down on one knee for the slog sweep but fails to connect. A few words are exchanged between Rashid and Burl, and it does not look like friendly banter. Things are getting heated here as the umpire has to step in between them.

Slows it up, shortish and on off, turns away a bit. Wessly Madhevere looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge that flies safely through point for a single.

Fires one, full and around leg, Ryan Burl misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg for a leg bye.

Big shout for LBW, but turned down! Rashid Khan bowls this flatter, full and on middle, Ryan Burl goes down and across for the reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. Rashid cannot believe that the umpire has not raised his finger, and it looked very close too. No DRS in this series, so he can do nothing about it.

Tossed up, full and around middle, Ryan Burl slogs it away between long on and deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Full ball on middle, Madhevere flicks it to deep mid-wicket and takes a couple.

PLAY AND A MISS! Flatter ball outside off, Madhevere looks to cut but misses it completely.

Well bowled by Noor! Slower ball around middle and leg, Burl looks to reverse sweep, but misses as the ball goes close to his pads and not far away from the stumps. The keeper misses it as well, and the ball goes towards short fine leg, and the batters cross. It has been given as a leg bye.

SWING AND A MISS! Loopy ball outside off, Burl looks to smack it down the ground but misses it completely.

Another tossed up ball on middle, Madhevere sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Noor starts with a tossed-up ball on middle, Wessly Madhevere pushes it to cover.

More spin as Noor Ahmad has been tossed the ball.

Shorter in length, around leg, Wessly Madhevere tucks it away through square leg for a run.

Another wrong'un, shortish and on middle, turns in sharply. Wessly Madhevere gets stuck in his crease and tries to work it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Flighted, full and on middle and off. Wessly Madhevere gets low and reverse sweeps it but straight to short third.

Drags his length back and on middle, Wessly Madhevere moves back and flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a brace.

A googly now, short again and on off, turns away. Ryan Burl stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Floated, short and on middle, turns in. Ryan Burl looks to clip it across the line but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Done with the Powerplay. Rashid Khan comes into the attack.

Tarakhail bowls this outside off, Madhevere pushes it to the off side. That is the end of the Powerplay and Zimbabwe are 37 for 3.

Full ball on middle, Burl pushes it down to long on for a single.

WIDE! Tarakhail goes short but over Burl's head. Ryan leaves it alone, and another wide is called by the umpire.

FOUR! SMACKED! Second boundary of the over. Short ball on off, Burl stands tall and pulls it to the deep mid-wicket region for another boundary.

WIDE! Tarakhail goes wide but it is outside the tramline on off, Burl lets it go and the umpire signals it a wide.

Another dot ball. Full ball on off, Burl drives it but does not place it well as it goes towards mid off.

Much better from Tarakhail. Good-length ball on middle, Burl defends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Much-needed for Zimbabwe! Shortish ball into the body of Ryan Burl. The left-hander just swats it to the right of short fine leg for a boundary. Good start to the sixth over for Zimbabwe.

Honing in on the off pole, on a good length. Burl drives it on the up in front of mid off and hurries to the other end.

FOUR! Nearly went the distance. Off-cutter by Omarzai, fuller as well, on middle. Burl picks up the change of pace and waits for the ball to arrive. He holds his shape and tonks it back over the bowler's head. One bounce and over the ropes.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count. Moving away a touch off the seam, on a good length. Burl has a big swing at it, looking to smoke it down the ground. Gets an outside edge and it races past the short third fielder for a four.

Slanting in at the hips. Madhevere nurdles it square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Angled in on a good length, on middle. The ball is not full enough but Burl tries to swat it away on the leg side. Gets it off the toe end of the blade to the right of mid-wicket. Abdullah Tarakhail moves to his right to make the stop but parries it away from the incoming mid on fielder, allowing a single.

On top of off, Burl stands tall on top of the bounce and punches it to cover-point.

Fullish ball on off, Madhevere pushes it to the off side. Excellent start from the youngster. Just 2 runs and a wicket from the over.

Another short ball from Tarakhailm Madhevere attempts a swing but connects with thin air.

Fullish ball around the off-stump line; Burl looks to flick but misses. It hits his pads and goes to the off side. Burl takes a leg bye. Afghanistan appeal for LBW, but the umpire denies it

On a length ball on off, Madhevere digs it out to the point region and takes a single.

A moment that Abdollah Ahmadzai will never forget. Wessly Madhevere is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Zimbabwe Skipper, Sikandar Raza, has to go! Zimbabwe are sliding further into trouble as Tarakhail gets his first wicket of the game. This is his first wicket in international cricket. What a proud moment for him. Good-length ball on off, Raza looks to swing it away, but has to reach out for it and does not time it well. It goes straight up in the air towards the mid off region, where Ibrahim Zadran settles under it and takes a simple catch. Zimbabwe lose their third wicket for just 13.

SWING AND A MISS! Tarakhail has a slingy action and starts with a good-length ball outside off, Raza looks to swing it away but misses

Abdullah Tarakhail, the debutant, comes into the attack now.

Attacking the sticks, on a length. Raza has a swing at it but mishits it off the inner half through square leg for a single.

Takes pace off and bowls it full, on off. Burl extends his hands and crunches the drive wide of mid off, where Rashid Khan slides to his right and keeps the batters down to a single.

A flash and a miss! In the channel, on the fuller side. Burl stays rooted to the crease and tries to force it through the off side but can only connect with thin air.

Delivers it on a length, on off. Burl eases it to cover.

A huge shout for LBW, but turned down. There were two noises, but it has been given as a leg bye. Curving back in the air, on a good length, on middle and leg. Raza has a swipe across the line but is undone by the ball tailing back in. The ball brushes his front pad before pinging him on the back pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball drops on the leg side.

Moving away in the air, on a good length. Raza brings his bat out in front and knocks it back to the bowler.

A RUN-OUT CHANCE MISSED! That could have easily been another wicket. Good-length ball on off, Raza pushes it to the point region and takes off for a single. The fielder comes running in and throws it at the keeper's end but misses. Ryan Burl was not even in the picture. It would have been curtains for him if the ball had hit the stumps. Another successful over for Afghanistan, though, as only two runs and a wicket came from the over.

Omarzai goes a little short this time. Raza stands on his back foot and defends it to the off side. Just a single and a wicket off the first 5 balls. Can Omarzai end it well?

Azmatullah Omarzai goes full again on middle, Raza pushes it back to the bowler.

Ryan Burl is off the mark! Another full delivery from Omarzai, Burl flicks it to the left of mid on and takes a quick single to get off the mark.

Lovely bowling from Omarzai. He comes around the wicket and bowls a full delivery outside off, Ryan Burl looks to crash it to the off side but misses it completely.

Both openers are gone in back-to-back deliveries. That brings Ryan Burl out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Afghanistan are off to a dream start. Brian Bennett has to go back. Azmatullah Omarzai starts off with a full delivery outside off. Bennett looks to go over mid off but does not move his feet at all, just like Kaia before him. The ball goes off the bottom half towards mid off where the Afghanistan skipper, Ibrahim Zadran, takes a good diving catch to his right. Zimbabwe are 8 for 2.

Early blow for Zimbabwe. Sikandar Raza walks out to bat at number 3. Also, Azmatullah Omarzai will share the attack.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes early for Afghanistan. This is pushed across the right-hander, on a length. Kaia does not move his feet at all and has a tentative prod at the ball. The ball leaves him with the angle and grazes the outside edge before the keeper, Noor ul Rahman, gobbles it up. Zimbabwe are 8/1 after the first over.

Takes pace off and floats it up, on off. Kaia springs onto the front foot and tries to go back over the bowler's head. Gets an outside edge and it dribbles down to backward point.

A hint of an inward shape, full and on off. Bennett plays a punchy drive to the left of mid off and takes a single.

Moving away in the air, on a length. Kaia looks to defend it from the crease. It squirts off the outer half down to deep third for a single.

A bit of a halt in play as Innocent Kaia is having some issues with his helmet. It has been resolved and we are good to go again.

FOUR! Nearly dragged it back onto the stumps. Farooqi gets the ball to hoop back into the right-hander, it is a low full toss. Kaia does not move his feet much and pushes at the ball. It curves back in to catch the inside edge and sneaks past the stumps before racing down to the deep fine leg fence. Innocent is off the mark in a streaky fashion.

DROPPED! That should have been taken. Brian Bennett gets an early reprieve. Fuller in length by Farqooqi, going across. Bennett reaches out and goes hard on the drive. Slices it off the outer half towards backward point, where Azmatullah Omarzai stays side on and gets on his knees to take the catch to his right but it hits his palm and drops to the ground. They cross.

A bit of movement first up for Farooqi. Steams in from over the wicket and this is pushed across the right-hander on a good length. It drifts beyond the tramline as Bennett fishes at the ball away from his body and is beaten past the outside edge. Zimbabwe are underway.

We are all set to begin! A good crowd has come in for this final game of the series. The Afghanistan players are already in their respective field positions. Brian Bennett and Innocent Kaia are the two openers for Zimbabwe. Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

A quick chat with Afghanistan's bowling coach - Hamid Hassan says the bowling unit is improving day by day, with the players working hard to develop their skills and abilities. Feels it is a young bowling group that will only get better with more games under their belt. Expects the pace attack to be in a good place over the next couple of years, with new talent continuing to come through.

The captain of Zimbabwe - Sikandar Raza says that they would have batted first anyway. Adds that there is a bit of moisture, but the grass is not there, so it should be a good wicket, and bowling second should not be a problem, as he does not expect much dew to come on. Raza feels Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa's debuts were among the biggest positives for them in the last game, with Vini impressing with the ball and Tsiga showing good composure with the bat despite not usually operating in a power-hitting role. He also highlights the team’s new-ball bowling as another encouraging aspect and says they will look to tick a few more boxes in the final game.

The skipper of Afghanistan - Ibrahim Zadran opts to bowl first, saying the team wanted to test themselves while batting second. Admits they haven't played well in the Powerplay in the last two games and have discussed the areas where they fell short. Says they will look to play good cricket, adapt to the conditions and put up a better show. Informs that they have made 4 changes.

PITCH REPORT - Mazhar Uddin shares that the weather is pleasant, with a bit of wind around. Informs that it is the same surface used for the first T20I, where the pacers picked up 13 wickets, although there is less grass on it this time. Naveen-ul-Haq mentions there is around 2 mm of grass on the surface. Opines that there are plenty of runs on offer, although the new ball could offer some movement early on. He expects the surface to be a little slower, given that it has been used, and feels anything above 170 would be a good total.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri (In place of Brad Evans), Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani (In place of Kundai Matigimu).

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Ibrahim Zadran (C), Mohammad Akram, Sediqullah Atal, Rashid Khan, Noor ul Rahman (WK) (In place of Rahmanullah Gurbaz), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Abdullah Tarakhail (In place of Shahidullah Kamal and On Debut), Noor Ahmad (In place of Mujeeb Ur Rahman), Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi (In place of Fareed Ahmad).

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of Ibrahim Zadran. Afghanistan elect to BOWL first.

Zimbabwe fight for pride - Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have shown glimpses of what they are capable of but have struggled to put together a complete performance. Sikandar Raza's magnificent unbeaten century in the previous game was a major positive, although the lack of support from the other end proved costly. They will need a much better collective effort with both bat and ball, while also being sharper in the field, if they are to challenge the hosts and sign off with a win. Stay tuned for the toss and other updates.

Afghanistan look to finish strong - Afghanistan have been the more dominant side in the series, with their batting firepower making a telling difference. While their top order has had a few inconsistencies, Azmatullah Omarzai's sensational century in the previous game highlighted the depth and attacking potential in their line-up. Their bowling unit has also delivered when required, and they will be keen to maintain that consistency and complete another series sweep.

One final showdown in Sharjah - Hello and welcome to our coverage of the third and final T20I between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The hosts have already wrapped up the series with back-to-back victories, but there is still plenty to play for as both sides look to finish the assignment on a high. Afghanistan will be keen to maintain their dominance in the shortest format and complete another clean sweep, while Zimbabwe will be desperate to avoid a whitewash and carry some confidence into the upcoming two-match Test series.

... MATCH DAY ...

Zimbabwe chase a consolation win - Afghanistan and Zimbabwe meet for the final T20I in Sharjah, with the hosts already sealing the series with back-to-back wins. Afghanistan have once again underlined their strength in the shortest format, while Zimbabwe have struggled to put together complete performances across both departments. Their wait for a maiden T20I series win against Afghanistan continues, but Sikandar Raza's side will have one final opportunity to end the series on a positive note and carry some momentum into the upcoming Test series. Top order has work to do - Afghanistan's batting has shown both its firepower and its vulnerability in the opening two games. They have been in trouble early on in both encounters, slipping to 18/3 in the first T20I and an even more precarious 5/4 in the second. However, the middle order has repeatedly bailed them out, with Azmatullah Omarzai's century standing out as the defining batting performance of the series so far. The likes of Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and captain Ibrahim Zadran have endured quiet outings in both games and will be eager to make amends in the final T20I. A potent attack with room to improve - The bowling attack has been another major reason behind Afghanistan's success. Rashid Khan has been among the wickets right through the Tri-series and has carried that form into the T20I leg. Afghanistan have also found contributions from their seamers, with Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq chipping in with wickets. However, the second T20I exposed a few cracks in their bowling. Despite reducing Zimbabwe to 82/5 while defending 222, Afghanistan let the game linger. Closing out an innings more efficiently remains an area they will want to improve. Can the batters rally around Raza? Zimbabwe have had one standout individual performance from Sikandar Raza to take away from the series, but they will need far more support around him. Their top order has struggled to get going, with early wickets leaving them on the back foot in both games. The onus will now be on Brian Bennett and Innocent Kaia to step up, provide a solid start and give the middle order something to build on. Finding the middle-over answers - Zimbabwe have made early inroads with the new ball but have struggled to sustain that pressure through the middle overs. Afghanistan scored 118/1 in that phase of the previous game, exposing their inability to contain the scoring or break partnerships. Sikandar Raza has also been uncharacteristically expensive and will need to tighten things up, but he cannot do it alone. The Chevrons need greater support from the rest of the attack to prevent Afghanistan from dictating terms. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - AFG - WWLWL | ZIM - LLLWL. Sharjah's changing character - Sharjah is traditionally known for its slow and low surfaces, but the second T20I turned that narrative on its head, with 423 runs scored across the two innings, the highest aggregate in a T20I at the venue. Scores have been on the rise here in recent years, and with both sides boasting plenty of batting firepower, another run-fest could be in store.