The rains in Harar probably saved the value of Zimbabwe, and unfortunately floated Afghanistan! In the first ODI on Tuesday, play started after four hours due to incessant rain. The match was reduced to 28 overs. But even ten overs could not be completed, the match was abandoned after playing 9.2 overs.
Afghanistan won the toss and bowled when the game started under cover of clouds and rain. Batting, the hosts scored only 10 runs in the first three overs. Azmatullah Omarzai hit a double in the next over. The Afghan pacer picked up two wickets again in the team's eighth over. Zimbabwe lost five batters for 41 runs.
Coming down to number seven, Sikandar Raja could not match himself. The match was abandoned after about a quarter of an hour when rain fell again on the second ball of the tenth over. Then Zimbabwe score 44 runs for 5 wickets.
Azmatullah took 4 wickets at the cost of 18 runs by bowling 4.2 overs.
The two teams will face each other in the second ODI next Thursday.
