Clean sweep for Afghanistan & Rashid Khan

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Rashid Khan helped Afghanistan to a 3-0 win in their T20I series against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi. After a comfortable win in the opening match on Wednesday, Afghanistan continued their dominance with two more comfortable victories on Friday and Saturday.

In the second match, Rashid scored nine not out from five balls as Afghanistan posted 193 for 5 batting first. The leg-spinner then took three wickets for the second match in a row, dismissing Zimbabwe top-scorer Ryan Burl plus Donald Tiripano and Brandon Mavuta in the same over. Burl had hit Rashid for three sixes, ensuring that the usually highly economical bowler finished with slightly more expensive figure than he is used to: 3 for 30 from three overs. Rashid reasserted his dominance, however, when he had Burl caught at deep midwicket for 40, the first of three wickets in his final over to all but wrap up the match. Zimbabwe were all out for 148 in the following over to hand Afghanistan a 45-run win.

The third and final match took place on the following day and saw Afghanistan win by 47 runs. Rashid was out for a first-ball duck as Afghanistan posted 183 for 7 having won the toss and batted first for the second match in a row. He bowled three wicketless overs for 18 runs as Zimbabwe once again fell well short, being restricted to 136 for 5 in reply.