By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine has praised teenage star Newman Nyamhuri for claiming the best figures for the team despite a thumping 232 run defeat in the second of the three match series at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The 18-year-old left arm seamer was making only the second appearance for Zimbabwe after earning his cap in the abandoned first ODI match on Tuesday.
It was only the first time that he was bowling in an innings for Zimbabwe as he retained impressive figures of 3 for 53 in his allotted 10 overs as Afghanistan put 286 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets.
However, Zimbabwe struggled in the chase and were bowled out for a paltry 54 runs.
Afghanistan recorded their biggest ever ODI win in terms of runs in the process.
“He was very impressive. He is a bright kid for the future. Hopefully, he can continue to do well,” Ervine said of Mhuri.
“I thought the pitch played a bit better than the previous game. We just wanted to set a platform. We have to back to the drawing board. Afghanistan bowlers were very skilful. But we didn’t show ourselves to be 50 all out,” the captain said on the performance itself.
Zimbabwe really weren’t ever in the chase. Ben ( was run out in the first over and Tadiwanashe Marumani (3) fell soon after, edging behind, while Dion Myers (1) and captain Craig Ervine (4) followed, leaving Zimbabwe staggering at 11 for four within the first five overs.
Sean Williams (16) and Raza tried to halt the inevitable with a fleeting 21-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure.
AM Ghazanfar’s deceptive carrom ball breached Williams’ defense with the score at 32, before the final five wickets tumbled for just nine runs in the space of 18 balls.
Raza, who remained stranded on 19 not out, could only watch helplessly as wickets continued to fall around him.
Zimbabwe were bundled out for 54 in 17.5 overs – their fourth-lowest total in ODI history and equalling their lowest against Afghanistan, a record dating back to 2017.
Afghanistan’s bowlers delivered a masterclass, led by Ghazanfar with three for 11 and Naveed Zadran with three for 15.
The series concludes on Saturday at the same venue, where Zimbabwe will need to regroup and secure a victory to share the spoils after the first match was washed out.