Mohammad Shahzad's unbeaten century helps Afghanistan take 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe

Afghanistan drew ever closer to a second ODI series win over Zimbabwe after taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. In the second ODI, the hosts chased down 254 thanks to Mohammad Shahzad’s unbeaten century at Sharjah.

Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to bat, set a target of 254 for the hosts after fifties from Peter Moor and Craig Ervine ensured they didn’t collapse as they did in the first ODI. While the target was above-par, the hosts looked in control throughout the chase, despite a few hiccups, thanks to Shahzad’s 131 not out.

The visitors’ decision to bat first on the same pitch on which they made the lowest total (82) by a Full Member against an Associate nation in ODI history on December 25, seemed liked the right decision after their openers put on 71 for the first wicket.

After completing his maiden ODI fifty, Moor became the first wicket to fall and his opening partner Richmond Mutumbami soon followed. But Hamilton Masakadza and Ervine provided some much-needed stability as the pair put on 98 for the third-wicket.

When Masakadza fell, Zimbabwe had only put on 170, in the 40th over. But thanks to Ervine's innings, the visitors were able to add 83 runs in the last 11 overs, despite losing five wickets to the reverse swing of Dawlat Zadran.

Ervine, who had swept and reverse swept beautifully, finished as the top scorer with 73 and the total, although not massive, was still one that was challenging on a pitch that was deteriorating.

But the hosts batted with positive intent, led by opener Shahzad, who was a calming influence throughout the innings. The opening pair of Noor Ali Zadran and Shahzad added 82 in 17.5 overs before Zadran fell for 31.

But any fears of a collapse were allayed thanks to another partnership of over 80 runs, this time between Mohammad Nabi and Shahzad. At the start of the 32nd over, the hosts were cruising towards victory, but lost five wickets for 29 runs and were in a spot of bother at the end of the 40th over.

But Shahzad was determined to not only get his century but also see his side home, which he managed with 14 balls to spare.

In the process, he scored his fourth hundred and the highest score by an Afghanistan batsman, which puts him on third place in the list of most centuries by an associate nation batsman. His innings included 8 sixes, which was the most by a batsman from an associate team, beating the previous record of 7 held by Hong Kong's Tanwir Afzal, set earlier this year against UAE in Dubai.

With a 2-0 lead, the hosts will be looking to seal the series on Saturday, when the third ODI takes place at Sharjah.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 253/7 in 50 overs (Ervine 73, Zadran 57/3) lost to Afghanistan 254/6 in 47.4 overs (Shahzad 131*, Chigumbura 32/3)