Afghanistan commenced their T20I series against Zimbabwe with a resounding victory, winning the opening match at the Harare Sports Club comprehensively. Following their loss in the Test match early in the tour, the visitors rebounded with a resurgent and all-round effort to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Batting first, Afghanistan reached a fighting total of 180 runs on a surface that gradually slowed down throughout the innings. The top order played sensibly, alternating aggression with solidity in order to keep the scoreboard rolling. There were a couple of hiccups in the middle overs, but the lower order ensured the innings ended well, providing Afghanistan with momentum as they approached the bowling phase. Zimbabwe’s chase, however, got off to a disastrous start. Their top order faltered badly, with four of the top five batters contributing just a single run between them. Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Azmat and Mujeeb, exploited the conditions beautifully to trigger an early collapse. Their disciplined bowling and sharp fielding left Zimbabwe struggling to recover. Also Read | Rohit Sharma Creates History as Oldest No.1 ODI Batter in ICC Rankings Evans and Maposa put up a short fight with a few lively boundaries and attempted some pride with a lively partnership. But Mujeeb's comeback to the bowling spell brought an end to the revival hopes as he struck twice in succession to bring the innings to a close and Afghanistan to the victory. The game highlighted Afghanistan's increasing maturity in white-ball cricket. Their capacity to bounce back from adversity, cope with unpredictability, and implement their strategies effectively was impressive. With this thumping win, Afghanistan not only forged ahead in the series but also made a strong statement regarding consistency and depth in T20 cricket. The two sides will now prepare for the second T20I, with Zimbabwe looking to come back on track.