Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took four wickets and quick Azmatullah Omarzai three as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 53 runs on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in a three-match Twenty20 series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tourists won the toss at Harare Sports Club, opted to bat and posted 180-6 with openers Ibrahim Zadran (52) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) the chief contributors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe plunged to 30-5 after five overs in reply and were all out for 127 with lower-order Tinotenda Maposa (32) the top scorer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gurbaz hit a six and six fours as he put on 76 runs with Zadran for the first wicket before a top edge off a Sikandar Raza delivery saw him caught in the covers by Tadiwanashe Marumani.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A poor stroke from Zadran led to a catch by Ryan Burl at deep mid-wicket after a 33-ball knock that included a six and six fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The off-spin of 39-year-old captain Raza brought him 3-20 and quick Blessing Muzarabani took 2-41 for the home side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An Afghan assault saw three of the first five Zimbabwe batters out for ducks and another for one. Opener Brian Bennett (24) was the exception, striking a six and three fours off 15 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chasing a lost cause, Brad Evans (24) and Maposa offered resistance before becoming victims of Mujeeb (4-20).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Omarzai (3-29) had inflicted considerable damage earlier, capturing the wickets of Bennett and Raza (one).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The teams meet again on Friday and Sunday as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next February and March.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan 180-6, 20 overs (I. Zadran 52, R. Gurbaz 39; S. Raza 3-20) v Zimbabwe 127, 16.1 overs (T. Maposa 32; M. Ur Rahman 4-20, A. Omarzai 3-29)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Result: Afghanistan won by 53 runs<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Series: Afghanistan lead 1-0 with two matches to play<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Toss: Afghanistan
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