AFG vs ZIM 2nd ODI Highlights: Sediqullah Atal Century, Rashid Khan 4/17 Decimate Zimbabwe in 158-Run Demolition

A commanding top-order exhibition capped by an unplayable middle-overs spell from leg-spinner Rashid Khan powered Afghanistan to an emphatic 158-run rout of Zimbabwe on Monday night at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Propelled by a stylish 140-run second-wicket partnership between centurion Sediqullah Atal (102) and Ibrahim Zadran (90), Afghanistan posted a competitive 294 in 50 overs despite a late collapse triggered by Brad Evans and Ernest Masuku.

Zimbabwe's pursuit unraveled inside the opening ten overs before Rashid Khan dismantled the middle order with figures of 4 for 17, skittling the African side for 136 in 38.4 overs.

DailyCricInfo breaks down the decisive tactical moments, three key takeaways that defined the contest, and full verified performance data from Match 2 of the UAE ODI Tri-Series.

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3 Key Match Takeaways: Why Zimbabwe Lost in Abu Dhabi

• Atal and Zadran Dominated Spin: Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran milked Zimbabwe's spinners for 140 runs during the middle overs, giving Afghanistan a buffer against a late-order wobble.
• Disastrous Powerplay Run-Outs and Seam Collapse: Zimbabwe surrendered any realistic path to chasing 295 by sliding to 26 for 3 inside eight overs, crippled by a suicidal run-out involving veteran Brendan Taylor and an unplayable opening burst from Fazalhaq Farooqi.
• Rashid Khan's Stifling Middle Overs: Rashid gave away zero loose deliveries, recording an economy of 2.13 and taking four clean middle-order wickets to snuff out a defiant 64-run resistance between Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl.

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Atal's Maiden Hundred and Zadran 90 Build Unassailable Total

Opting to bat first after Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss, Afghanistan set out with positive intent against the Zimbabwean new-ball pair of Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz launched the innings with three boundaries and a six in an aggressive 20-ball 25 before seamer Ernest Masuku found an inside edge to crash into his stumps in the eighth over with 50 runs on the board.

That wicket brought Sediqullah Atal to the crease to join in-form anchor Ibrahim Zadran.

The pair dismantled Zimbabwe's bowling attack with disciplined running and boundary striking through the covers, taking Afghanistan from 50 for 1 to 190 for 1 in a mammoth 140-run stand.

Zadran reached his fifty off 47 deliveries, accumulating nine fours and two sixes in an authoritative 90 off 96 balls before Brad Evans induced an outside edge to wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga.

Atal pressed on, bringing up his maiden ODI century off 109 balls with a punch down to long-on.

The 25-year-old left-hander struck eight boundaries and a six in his 110-ball 102 before mistiming a drive off veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza.

Despite a rapid lower-middle-order collapse orchestrated by Brad Evans (3 for 48) and Ernest Masuku (3 for 44) that saw Afghanistan slide from 272 for 5 to 294 all out on the final delivery of the 50th over, the foundation laid by Atal and Zadran proved decisive.

Muzarabani chipped in with 2 for 68, while Evans finished as the pick of the bowlers for the Chevrons.

Farooqi and Omarzai Ambush Chevrons Inside the Powerplay

Defending 294 on an Abu Dhabi wicket holding its pace under lights, Afghanistan's new-ball bowlers struck early blows to dismantle Zimbabwe's top order.

Left-arm swing specialist Fazalhaq Farooqi struck in his second over, castling opener Ben Curran for a duck.

Farooqi struck again in his fourth over, finding the outside edge of Tafadzwa Tsiga (2), safely held by Gurbaz behind the stumps.

A breakdown in communication on the first ball of the eighth over resulted in veteran Brendan Taylor being run out for 1 following a direct hit from Azmatullah Omarzai, reducing Zimbabwe to 26 for 3.

Mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar piled on the misery in the 13th over, trapping Brian Bennett leg-before for 31 off 40 deliveries to leave the chase stranded at 43 for 4.

Rashid Khan 4/17 Cuts Through Raza-Burl Counter-Attack

Zimbabwe mounted their solitary period of resistance through senior all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl, who combined for a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Raza used his feet against the turning ball to hit three fours and a six in a gritty 80-ball 48, while Burl absorbed 63 deliveries for his 31.

However, the introduction of leg-spin maestro Rashid Khan ended any lingering hopes of an upset.

Rashid broke the stand in the 32nd over, trapping Burl leg-before with a slider that skidded on straight.

Two overs later, Rashid dismantled Wesley Madhevere (5) with a wrong'un that struck him on the front pad.

Rashid then delivered the decisive blow of the innings in the 36th over, beating Raza through the gate with a sharp googly that clipped the off bail.

Rashid cleaned up Ernest Masuku for a duck in his next over, concluding a spell of 4 for 17 in eight overs, including one maiden.

Veteran off-spinner Mohammad Nabi dismissed Brad Evans (14) via a catch to Zadran, before a run-out in the 39th over folded Zimbabwe for 136 in 38.4 overs, confirming a massive 158-run victory for Afghanistan.

Sediqullah Atal was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 102.

Afghanistan sit at the top of the tri-series points table, while Zimbabwe look to regroup before facing Bangladesh in their next fixture in Abu Dhabi.

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