Zimbabwe win to give Masakadza the perfect send-off.....

The Zimbabwe skipper hit 71 as he guided his side to victory in his last game for his nation.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan's decision to bat first after winning the toss looked an inspired decision as his side's openers got off to a flying start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai added 83 for the first wicket inside ten overs before Zazai fell to Tinotenda Mutombodzi.

Gurbaz's scoring rate began to slow but the 17-year old did reach his maiden T20I half-century. Gurbaz saw Shafiqullah at the other end, a wicket that prompted a somewhat of a collapse. Having been well poised at 106/2, Afghanistan slipped to 140/6 as Christopher Mpofu took career-best T20I figures of 4/30 from his allotted set of overs.

Mpofu was well supported by Tinotenda Mutombodzi who took 2/18 from three overs as Afghanistan finished their innings on 155/8.

Masakadza opened the batting with the experienced Brendan Taylor and the pair added 40 for the first wicket before Taylor was caught by Najibullah Zadran off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman. This brought Regis Chakabva to the wicket and the pair added 70 runs for the second wicket as Zimbabwe lowered the required run-rate with two of their more experienced batsmen at the crease.

The skipper was the second wicket to fall as Dawlat Zadran had him caught by Mohammad Nabi for 71. Virtually every single Afghanistan player went over to the departing captain to shake his hand as his international career, which began all the way back in 2001, came to a close. Hamilton ends his 18-year international career with 9,543 international runs, a tally only bettered by the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1350640

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