SHARJAH: Leg-spin sensation Rashid Khan took five wickets as Afghanistancruised to a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third one-dayinternational at Sharjah on Tuesday.
The Afghans now lead the series 2-1 with two matches remaining, as theteams warm up for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe next month.
Zimbabwe won the toss and batted first, but collapsed from 117-3 to 154 allout as 19-year-old Khan finished with figures of 5-24.
Rahmat Shah and Nasir Jamal both struck half-centuries in Afghanistan’sreply as they wrapped up victory with 22.3 overs remaining.
Zimbabwe recovered from 44-3 with Sikandar Raza hitting 38 and Craig Ervine39, but both fell LBW to Khan as the teenager, who was bought by SunrisersHyderabad for $1.41 million in last month’s IPL auction, ran through themiddle order.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 16, again impressed opening the bowling with hisleg-breaks and claimed the key wicket of second-match centurion BrendanTaylor on his way to 3-45.
Big-hitting Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad — continuing hisreturn from a drugs ban — fell early, but Shah and Jamal combined to put on69, before Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran finished the job with somelusty blows.
Afghanistan will look to win the series in the fourth ODI at Sharjah onFriday, with the sides set to meet again in Group B of World Cup qualifyingon March 6.
Qualification for the 10-team World Cup in England and Wales next yearwould continue Afghanistan’s remarkable rise, with the war-torn nation toplay their maiden Test match against India at Bangalore in June.
Scores in brief:
Zimbabwe 154 all out in 34.3 overs (Rashid Khan 5-24, Mujeeb Ur Rahman3-45) v Afghanistan 158-4 in 27.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 56, Nasir Jamal 51)
Afghanistan won by six wickets
Afghanistan lead series 2-1 – APP / AFP