The Sunday Mail
FIRST One Day International match hero Sean Williams has his eye on another virtuoso performance as Zimbabwe engage Afghanistan in the second ODI at Queens Sports Club today.
Williams, man of the match in the series opener on Friday, powered Zimbabwe to an easy six-wicket victory, with a well constructed 70 off 86 deliveries.
The left-handed batsman highlighted that it’s important for Zimbabwe to back their positive start to the series with another victory against the visitors.
“It feels good and it’s always nice to start a series with a win. A lot of hard work has been done in preparation for this series, and obviously for South Africa coming, but it’s important we focus on this one first. Afghanistan now know how we play so it’s interesting to see how they will go about it in the second match, they will make it difficult for us I am sure,’’ said Williams who walked to the crease to replace a retired hurt Sikandar Raza with Zimbabwe still needing 135 runs for victory.
“It was a bit tricky coming in but I knew that at Queens if I hit a few down the ground, the longer I stay the easier it becomes,” he said.
And easier it became as he joined skipper Brendan Taylor (43) in a partnership of 31 runs but it was his union with Elton Chigumbura (39*), which yielded 85 runs that secured the match.
In the first match, Zimbabwe vindicated their decision to bowl first as debutant Donald Tiripano removed Usman Ghani in the second over and with the visitors wobbling, Tendai Chatara claimed the wickets of Asghar Stanikzai and Hashmatullah Shaidi to leave them reeling at 56 for 3 after 18 overs.
Opener Noor Ali Zadran (43) controlled the damage with a 43 stand with Samiullah Shenwari (65), but even the 73 partnership of captain Mohammed Nabi (54) and Shenwari could not inspire a challenging total.
Zimbabwe reached the middling target with ease.
