Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai's 52 from 22 rescues Afghanistan in a 37-run win over Zimbabwe

Afghanistan were 66 for 5 in Sharjah before Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai's 22-ball half-century turned the first T20I against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza put Afghanistan in at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night and saw his bowlers take three wickets inside the first three overs. Afghanistan slipped to 45 for 4, and were 66 for 5 in the 12th over.

They recovered to 177 all out in 19.5 overs. Zimbabwe, set 178, were dismissed for 140 in 19.1 overs, and Afghanistan took the match by 37 runs to lead the three-match series 1-0.

The innings turned on Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, who walked in at No. 7 and made 52 from 22 balls, and on Rashid Khan, whose 30 from 10 closed it out.

Three wickets in the first three overs

Zimbabwe's new-ball bowlers struck three times inside the opening three overs, and Afghanistan never settled in the powerplay.

Ibrahim Zadran made 5 from 6 balls before falling. Rahmanullah Gurbaz lasted longer for 18 from 21, but the scoring rate stalled around him on a slow surface.

By the 12th over Afghanistan were 66 for 5, the recognised batting gone and more than eight overs still to come.

Ahmadzai swings the innings back

Ahmadzai arrived with the innings in that state and hit four fours and four sixes in his 22-ball stay, a strike rate of 236.

He and Shahidullah added 57 for the sixth wicket, the stand that took Afghanistan out of trouble and left the later batting something to attack with.

Shahidullah's 46 from 42 carried two fours and three sixes. He held one end while Ahmadzai went at the bowling from the other, and his was the slower and the longer of the two innings.

Rashid Khan clears the ropes four times

Rashid Khan came in late and made 30 from 10 balls, four of them sixes, with a single four alongside.

Noor Ahmad added 6 from 4 at the close, and Afghanistan were bowled out only in the final over of the innings with 177 on the board.

From 66 for 5 in the 12th, Afghanistan had taken 111 runs from their last 51 balls. Their last five wickets had added all of them.

Nyamhuri's four wickets count for little

Newman Nyamhuri finished with 4-31 from 3.5 overs, the best bowling figures of the match. He bowled 3.5 of his four overs before the innings ended.

Brad Evans and Ernest Masuku took two wickets apiece, and Wellington Masakadza and Raza one each. Zimbabwe claimed all ten wickets and still conceded 177.

Raza's decision to field had looked the right one for eleven overs. The last eight overs undid it, once Ahmadzai began clearing the ropes.

Farooqi breaks the chase early

Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3-13 from 3.1 overs and finished the innings off, leaving Zimbabwe's reply in trouble before it had taken shape. His three wickets cost 13 runs in 19 balls.

Ryan Burl top-scored with 32 from 24 balls with two sixes, and Innocent Kaia made 24 from 26. Raza contributed 17 from 13 and Ben Curran 7 from 8.

Wessly Madhevere struck 17 from 8 balls late on, but no Zimbabwe stand lasted long enough to put the target within range.

Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took two wickets each, and Shahidullah took the remaining one. The second T20I is at the same ground on Thursday.

Scorecard: Afghanistan 177 all out (19.5 overs; Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai 52, Shahidullah 46, Rashid Khan 30; Newman Nyamhuri 4-31) beat Zimbabwe 140 all out (19.1 overs; Ryan Burl 32, Innocent Kaia 24; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-13) by 37 runs.

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