Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe ODI Tri-Series Final 2026: Match Result
Afghanistan are champions of the UAE ODI Tri-Nation Series 2026. Chasing a modest 170 in the final, they cruised to 170/3 in 34.3 overs and sealed a 7-wicket victory over Zimbabwe with 93 balls to spare, completing a flawless campaign in which they won all three matches.
It was a final that never truly caught fire after Zimbabwe chose to bat first and were bowled out for 169 in 43.3 overs, undone by the tournament’s standout bowler, Rashid Khan. Our prediction for this final picked Afghanistan — and it was right.
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Final Result: Score Summary and Match Details
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe (bat first) | 169 all out | 43.3 |
| Afghanistan | 170/3 | 34.3 |
Result: Afghanistan won by 7 wickets (93 balls remaining)
Toss: Zimbabwe won and elected to bat
Venue: UAE
Player of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan) — 70* off 96 balls
Series: ODI Tri-Nation Series in UAE 2026 (Afghanistan champions)
Zimbabwe’s Innings: Rashid Khan and the Spinners Apply the Squeeze
Zimbabwe’s decision to bat first backfired quickly. The Afghan pace pair of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai struck with the new ball, and once the spinners were introduced the scoring dried up completely. Zimbabwe never recovered from their mid-innings slide and were dismissed for 169 in the 44th over.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | How out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza | 68 | 83 | caught (b Rashid Khan) |
| Ryan Burl | 31 | 45 | caught |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 17* | 39 | not out |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | 12 | 11 | — |
| Brian Bennett | 9 | 21 | caught |
| Wellington Masakadza | 8 | 25 | lbw |
| Brendan Taylor | 7 | 11 | caught |
| Tafadzwa Tsiga | 4 | 8 | caught |
| Wessly Madhevere | 3 | 6 | stumped |
| Brad Evans | 1 | 7 | lbw |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 0 | 5 | — |
Raza was once again Zimbabwe’s mainstay, top-scoring with a 68 that included three fours and three sixes, until Rashid Khan dismissed him in his final over. Rashid finished with 3/41 from 10 overs, capping a dominant tournament in which he took 11 wickets in three matches.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 41 | 3 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10 | 25 | 2 |
| Bilal Sami | 5.3 | 27 | 2 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 7 | 41 | 2 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar | 6 | 24 | 0 |
Afghanistan’s Chase: Ibrahim Zadran Anchors the Title-Winning Run Chase
The chase was never in doubt. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave it a flying start with 36 off 31 balls, and Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with an unbeaten 70 off 96 balls as Afghanistan knocked off the 170 runs in just 34.3 overs.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibrahim Zadran | 70* | 96 | 4/1 |
| Rahmat Shah | 43 | 63 | 1/1 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 36 | 31 | 4/2 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | 7* | 5 | 1/0 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 6 | 12 | 1/0 |
Newman Nyamhuri was Zimbabwe’s best bowler with 2/30 from six overs, while Wessly Madhevere took the other wicket. It was not enough to defend a below-par total on a good surface.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newman Nyamhuri | 6 | 30 | 2 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 1.3 | 8 | 1 |
| Ryan Burl | 6 | 19 | 0 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 6 | 23 | 0 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 6 | 29 | 0 |
| Sikandar Raza | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| Brad Evans | 6 | 42 | 0 |
Key Turning Points in the Tri-Series Final
- The toss backfired: Zimbabwe chose to bat hoping for first-innings runs, but the Afghan attack exploited the early movement and the decision quickly became a handicap.
- Rashid’s middle-overs strangle: His 10-over spell of 3/41, ending with the wicket of the set Raza, removed Zimbabwe’s last genuine hope of a competitive total.
- Muzarabani’s lonely stand: Blessing Muzarabani’s 17* from 39 balls with Raza was the only tail resistance — once Raza fell, the innings folded quickly.
- Gurbaz’s powerplay burst: 36 off 31 with two sixes killed any early pressure, making the chase a formality well before the halfway mark.
- Ibrahim’s calm finish: The unbeaten 70 ensured Afghanistan did not stumble against the turning ball, sealing the trophy in the 35th over.
What the Final Result Means for the Tri-Series Standings
Afghanistan finish the tournament unbeaten with three wins from three — they beat Zimbabwe by 158 runs in the league stage, chased down Bangladesh for their second win, and then swept Zimbabwe aside again in the final. Zimbabwe, who edged into the final ahead of Bangladesh on net run rate, end runners-up with two wins, while Bangladesh finished without a victory. Rashid Khan’s 11 wickets at a superb economy made him the bowler of the tournament.
What’s Next for Both Teams
With the tri-series decided, Afghanistan return home with silverware and a settled winning combination heading into a busy international calendar. Zimbabwe will regroup after a disappointing batting display in the final — their middle order, so reliant on Raza, needs support if they are to trouble Afghanistan again. Both sides’ next fixtures will be covered here on CricFacts with full previews and immediate result reports.
Before this final, we predicted an Afghanistan win in our AFG vs ZIM final prediction — and the men in blue delivered. You can also read our Afghanistan vs Bangladesh tri-series match report, where Rashid’s 4/31 set up the win that sealed Afghanistan’s final spot.