Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi scored seven off three balls in the final over at Harare Sports Club to deliver a three-wicket Twenty20 win over Zimbabwe on Saturday, and a 2-1 series victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nabi struck a four off the first ball, followed by a two and a single in a tense finish as the tourists followed up a 50-run triumph on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nabi finished unbeaten on 24 -- the second best Afghan batter after another all-rounder, Azmatullah Omarzai, who made 34 after taking two wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe posted 127 in 19.5 overs and Afghanistan 128-7 with three balls to spare as they won a sixth consecutive T20 series against the southern African nation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"In the middle of our innings we lost some wickets cheaply which put pressure on us," Nabi told reporters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But I managed to control my nerves and that gave me the confidence to go on and score the series-winning runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Next up is the one-day international series and this wicket is not easy to judge. The pitch for the first two games was better -- today it was up and down."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghan captain Rashid Khan won a third straight toss, but after batting first in the earlier matches, he opted to bowl in the series decider.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khan took 4-27 for Afghanistan while opener Brian Bennett top scored for Zimbabwe with 31, including four fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan struggled in reply, losing four wickets for 44 before a 48-run fifth-wicket stand between Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib (22) tilted the balance toward the visiting team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
From then on the tourists looked the likelier winners, but when Omarzai was caught and bowled by Sikandar Raza with 13 balls remaining, there was a glimmer of hope for the home team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Naib dashed those hopes with his 18-ball knock, which included three fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Batters struggled with neither team managing to score a six while Zimbabwe hit 11 fours -- two more than Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The teams now play a three-match one-day international series in Harare, starting on Tuesday, then two Tests in Bulawayo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe 127 in 19.5 overs (B.Bennett 31, W.Madhevere 21; Rashid Khan 4-27, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-10, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-20, Naveen-ul-Haq 2-27) v Afghanistan 128-7 in 19.3 overs (Omarzai 34, Mohammad Nabi 24 not out, Gulbadin Naib 22; B.Muzarabani 2-19, Sikandar Raza 2-19, T.Gwandu 2-30)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Result: Afghanistan win by three wickets<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Series: Afghanistan win 2-1<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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