Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the second One-Day International (ODI) between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. This is Suraj Choudhari, and I shall be presenting the you the updates from the day’s play. After their series win over Ireland in the preceding three-match series, Zimbabwe will be confident of imposing themselves on Afghanistan. In line with general expectations, Zimbabwe scored a thumping eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first ODI with the Zimbabwean bowling running through their batting. SCORECARD: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015, 2nd ODI at Bulawayo
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Zimbabwe 49/1 | Overs 9 | BATSMEN: Noor Ali Zadran 11(23), Mohammad Nabi 17(19)| Zadran and Nabi trying to steady the Afghanistani ship and getting their eye in. Both need to realize their need to spend time at the crease and against the new ball. They need a quiet partnership of 30 runs from here first which will put them in a good position. Zimbabwe are bowling a tidy line and length now but constantly need to attack.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Zimbabwe 26/1 | Overs 5 | BATSMEN: Noor Ali Zadran 6(17), Mohammad Nabi 1(1)| Afghanistan almost got a desireable start but Zimbabwe drew the first blood in the form of Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad was looking good and got the ball rolling from the outset at Bulawayo before his innings was cut short while playing a flick to Tinashe Panyangara. The ball is coming nicely on to the bat and looks a high scoring venue. Afghanistan needs a partnership of 50 from the Noor Ali Zadran and Mohammad Nabi now. OUT! Mohammad Shahzad c Richmond Mutumbami b Tinashe Panyangara 17(12)
Toss: Asghar Stanikzai gets it right at the coin toss and has elected to bat first. Zimbabwe will look to continue their form as they 1 ahead in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series.
Afghanistan will want to give the world further testimony of their growing prowess on the cricket field and will be extra motivated to make an impression. While Zimbabwe will unquestionably begin as favourites, it shouldn’t come as a massive surprise if Afghanistan win the match. The previous time Afghanistan toured Zimbabwe, they bounced back from being 0-2 down to level the series 2-2.
This will be an important series for Asghar Stanikzai, since this is his first big assignment as Afghanistan captain ever since Mohammad Nabi relinquished the position. Elton Chigumbura will continue to lead the Zimbabwean side. In all the teams have played each other on five occasions and Afghanistan have won twice which is indicative that underestimating them in this three-match series is not recommended.