Story DBC14 Afghanistan's Tour Of Zimbabwe: Warm Up Match Day 1

[SpitfiresKent]

Warm Up Match

Match Preview


Teams


Zimbabwe A


Brian Chari
Chamu Chibhabha
Kevin Kasuza
Forster Mutizwa
Peter Moor
Luke Jongwe
Tafadzwa Tsiga
Thabo Mboyi
Trevor Garwe
John Nyumbu
Tatenda Manatsa



Afghanistan


Nawroz Mangal
Usman Ghani
Mohammad Shahzad
Rahmat Shah
Asghar Stanikzai
Mohammad Nabi
Samiullah Shenwari
Mirwais Ashraf
Dawlat Ahmadzai
Dawlat Zadran
Shapoor Zadran


Ground

Bulawayo (Bradman Oval)


Pitch & Conditions​

The weather is set to be fine for all three days of play with no interruptions. The pitch will offer some assistance to the fast bowlers in the morning session but batting is expected to get easier as the day goes on, the spinners should come into play on day three.


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Afghanistan begin their tour of Zimbabwe with a warm up match against a Zimabwe A side consisting of players who are on the fringes of the national side and those that have impressed in the previous domestic 50 over format. For Afghanistan this is a chance for them to show to the world that they can go toe to toe with the big cricketing nations.


Afghanistan have named a strong side with 6ft 2 pace bowler Shapoor Zadran being their main threat with the ball. 17 year old Usman Ghani, who is highly rated by Afghanistan will open the batting alongside the more experienced Nawroz Mangal. The middle order is solid on paper with the Likes of Samiullah Shenwari and of course captain Mohammad Nabi.


Zimbabwe A Include two players Chamu Chibhabha and Forster Mutizwa who have already experienced playing for the national side. The bowling unit includes Trevor Garwe who was the leading wicket taker in the domestic 50 over competition. Also included is the highly rated all rounder Luke Jongwe who starred for Zimbabwe in the U19 World Cup.

Quotes​

"We have prepared well and if we execute our skills well, then maybe we can cause an upset"
Forster Mutizwa


"We are taking this match very seriously, we look forward to locking horns with the Zimbabweans"
Mohammad Nabi



Day 1 report to follow.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Warm Up Match

Day 1


Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.

Match Summary.​

An extraordinary days play of cricket was witnessed at Bulawayo today as 23 wickets fell for a combined total of 297 runs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first both of the Afghanistan openers made a solid start putting on 26 runs for the first wicket before Tatenda Manatsa came up with the goods taking 3 wickets in just 5 balls, all of which were lbw. Asghar Stanikzai also fell not so long after, bowled by Trevor Garwe for just 6.

This was not the start in which Afghanistan would have hoped for but opener Nawroz Mangal accompanied by captain Mohammad Nabi rebuit the Afghans innings putting on 33 for the 5th wicket.

Nawroz Mangal hits a boundary through the off side.​

Despite losing a cluster of wickets Afghanistan continued to play their shots as the run rate hovered just above 4rpo. Captain Mohammad Nabi was the main aggressor hitting several boundaries through the leg side. At the other end Mangal was more watchful.

The breakthrough for Zimbabwe A came once again from Tatenda Manatsa. Mohammad Nabi's aggressive stroke play was to be his downfall as he edged behind and this would signal another Afghan collapse. Spinner John Nyumbu picked up the crucial wicket of Mangal just before lunch, Mangal losing his concentration and completely missing a straight delivery.

Nawroz Mangal is bowled by John Nyumbu for 39.​

Two new batsman arrived at the crease in the shape of Samiullah Shenwari and all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf. The aim was to see their side through to Lunch without any further damage, Shenwari took a particular liking to the bowling of medium pacer Thabo Mboyi smashing him for several boundaries but at the other end Ashraf looked a lot less comfortable as he attempted to cut Mboyi only to edge behind to second slip.

Shenwari and new batsman Dawlat Ahmadzai safely made it to lunch but Afghanistan were reeling at 122/7.

Mirwais Ashraf edged behind for just 1.​

It took Zimbabwe A just 6 and a half overs to grab the remaining 3 wickets. John Nyumbu helped himself to 2 more wickets as he dismissed Ahmadzai for 1 and more importantly top scorer Shenwari for 43. Tatenda Manatsa would gain all of the plaudits though as he picked up his five wicket haul trapping last man Shapoor Zadran lbw. Afghanistan all out for 134.

Tatenda Manatsa took 5 wickets.

Afghanistan's 1st innings.​

Zimbabwe A lost both openers early on as Dawlat and Shapoor Zadran dismissed Brian Chari and Chamu Chibhabha cheaply. Captain Forster Mutizwa also fell cheaply as he was bowled by leg spinner Shenwari. Kevin Kasuza stuck around for 17 deliveries only to be dismissed by Ahmadzai who also dismissed the talented Peter Moor and young wicket keeper Tafadzwa Tsiga.

At this stage Zimbabwe A were 42 for 6 and for a moment Afghanistan's small total looked to be a world beater. Luke Jongwe had other plans though and he played some eye catching shots but a fancy looking 20 wasn't what was required and when he was dismissed by Shenwari, Zimbabwe A were now struggling big time. Someone needed to knuckle down and show some fight, step forward Thabo Mboyi.

Thabo Mboyi was watchful early on in his innings.​

The bowling all-rounder who plys his trade in Bulawayo for the Matabeleland Tuskers played an important knock for Zimbabwe A and was well supported by the tail, especially Trevor Garwe. Upon reaching the tea break Mboyi was 7 not out from 24 balls but he accelerated intelligently afterwards racing towards his fifty at almost a run a ball. There were some fears that Mboyi would be left stranded and unable to reach his half century after the dismissal of both Garwe and Nyumbu who both fell lbw but Tatenda Manatsa stuck around long enough for Mboyi to reach his well deserved half century.

Mboyi's fifty came off just 53 deliveries.​

Shortly after reaching his half century Zimbabwe A were all out for 127 but Mboyi remained on 56* not out. Zimbabwe A trailed by just 7 runs.

Dawlat Ahmadzai impressed with the ball.

Zimbabwe A's 1st innings.​

Just under one hour of play was left on an already hectic day 1. Nawroz Mangal who played brilliantly in Afghanistan's 1st innings once again started from where he left off racing towards 15 off just 12 balls before Trevor Garwe popped up to force the edge of Mangal's bat, Tafadzwa Tsiga made no mistakes with the catch.

The Zimbabweans celebrate as Nawroz Mangal edges behind for 15.​

There was still time for Zimbabwe A to pick up two more wickets. 17 year old Usman Ghani edged behind for just 5 off the bowling of Garwe and Mohammad Shahzad was clean bowled for the same score by Tatenda Manatsa.

Rahmat Shah and Asghar Stanikzai guided their side safely through to the close of play as Afghanistan finished on 36/3, a lead of just 43 runs.

Afghanistan's 2nd innings - Close of play.



Quotes​

"It felt great to make such an important innings for my team when we were struggling."
Thabo Mboyi



"Our batting needs to improve in the 2nd innings if we're to have any chance of winning this match.''
Mohammad Nabi

 

[Dipak]

Good start. Nice update. The color tag is messed up in the index though

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Unfortunately I cannot commit to this story any longer (yes I know I just started it) but I have lost interest in writing it all up as it takes far too much time.

Thanks for all your support though