Afghanistan needed only 136 to win the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. It should have been an easy win, but Blessing Muzarabani (2-18) and Tendai Chatara (2-32) reduced them to 60/4 in 21 overs before Hashmatullah Shahidi (38) and Mohammad Nabi (34*) added 45. At 118/6 Zimbabwe still had a chance, but Nabi and Rashid Khan saw them home.
Zimbabwe struggled early in the day against Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-25), Fareed Ahmed (1-9), and Azmatullah Omarzai (1-17), and soon became 60/4 before Sikandar Raza (38) dug in. However, when Raza was sixth out, on 98, Zimbabwe caved in. Of their lower order batters, only Ryan Burl (21) managed to go past 20 as the Afghan spinners, Rashid (3-31) and Nabi (2-21), took charge. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, too, took 1-23 from his quota of 10 overs.
Despite getting out for 17 in the match, Rahmat Shah was named Player of the Series for his 198 runs. The series win fetched Afghanistan 30 points in the World Super League. They are now at second place, 20 points behind Bangladesh, while Zimbabwe (35) are above only lowest-placed Netherlands.
Brief scores
Zimbabwe 135 in 44.5 overs (Sikandar Raza 38; Rashid Khan 3-31) lost to Afghanistan 137/6 in 37.4 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 38; Blessing Muzarabani 2-18) by 4 wickets with 74 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan win the series 3-0. Player of the Match: Rahmat Shah.