Atal's hundred and Rashid's four-for give Afghanistan a 158-run win over Zimbabwe

Sediqullah Atal's third one-day international hundred and a four-wicket return from Rashid Khan carried Afghanistan to a 158-run win over Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi

Afghanistan chose to bat at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and were bowled out for 294 from their full 50 overs, before dismissing Zimbabwe for 136 in 38.3 overs in the second match of the UAE ODI Tri-Series.

Atal made 102 from 110 balls and put on 140 for the second wicket with Ibrahim Zadran, who was dismissed 10 short of a century of his own.

Rashid Khan then took 4-17 from eight overs as a chase of 295 came apart inside the first 13 overs, giving Afghanistan their first win of a tournament that also features Bangladesh.

Atal and Zadran build the platform

Rahmanullah Gurbaz began quickly with 25 from 20 balls, striking three fours and a six before Ernest Masuku removed him.

That brought Atal and Zadran together, and the pair added 140 for the second wicket against a Zimbabwe attack that found little help from the surface through the middle overs.

Zadran made 90 from 96 balls with nine fours and two sixes, and was caught at deep square leg off Brad Evans.

Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 28 from 30 balls, while Rahmat Shah made seven and Azmatullah Omarzai eight.

A hundred and a player-of-the-match award

Atal's innings, which contained eight fours and a six, was his third century in one-day internationals and his second against Zimbabwe. He was named player of the match.

The 25-year-old left-hander has now averaged over 100 across his past three 50-over innings, a run that has pushed him into contention as Afghanistan plan for the 2027 World Cup.

"I'm quite happy with the way I'm going these days," Atal told the ICC after the match, adding that he is "working hard, really hard, for these kind of days."

On his partnership with Zadran, Atal said: "He's quite a good player to play with at the crease. We have very good communication with each other and we know each other very well."

Zimbabwe claw back at the death

Zimbabwe's bowlers kept the total within reach once the second-wicket stand was broken. Masuku and Evans finished with three wickets apiece.

Blessing Muzarabani took 2-68 from his spell, and Sikandar Raza chipped in with a wicket as Afghanistan lost their way late and were unable to bat out the innings with wickets in hand.

The chase collapses to 43 for 4

Zimbabwe lost four wickets inside 12.5 overs to slip to 43 for 4, and never recovered the ground.

Raza top-scored with 48 from 80 balls, hitting three fours and a six, and added 64 for the fifth wicket with Ryan Burl, who made 31 from 63.

Brian Bennett was the only other batter to pass 30, with 31 from 40 balls, as Rashid's leg spin picked off the lower order and Fazalhaq Farooqi took two.

What it means in Abu Dhabi

The tri-series is being played in full at the Abu Dhabi ground, with the top two sides in the round-robin advancing to the final on 23 October.

Zimbabwe had opened the tournament in better fashion, beating Bangladesh by 99 runs on 17 October, and now have a defeat alongside that win.

Afghanistan meet Bangladesh in the third match on 21 October, with all three sides using the series as preparation for the 50-over World Cup.

Scorecard: Afghanistan 294 all out (50 overs; Sediqullah Atal 102, Ibrahim Zadran 90; Ernest Masuku 3, Brad Evans 3) beat Zimbabwe 136 all out (38.3 overs; Sikandar Raza 48; Rashid Khan 4-17) by 158 runs.

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