A clinical all-round performance helped Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the ODI tri-series final in the UAE. Rashid Khan bagged three wickets, while Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Bilal Sami picked up two apiece as they bundled Zimbabwe out for 169 despite Sikandar Raza's 68. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 70 off 96 balls, receiving support from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (36) and Rahmat Shah (43), as Afghanistan reached the target in 34.3 overs to complete an unbeaten run through the tri-series.

After Zimbabwe opted to bat, Brian Bennett struck a couple of boundaries but was otherwise kept quiet. He eventually fell for a 21-ball nine to Azmatullah Omarzai. Farooqi had Tadiwanashe Marumani bowled before Bennett's departure and also sent Tafadzwa Tsiga back cheaply, reducing Zimbabwe to 26 for 3 in the seventh over. Sami then accounted for Brendan Taylor, who edged an innocuous delivery behind, as Zimbabwe slipped to 55 for 4.

Raza and Ryan Burl began the repair job, negotiating Afghanistan's disciplined attack and gradually finding opportunities to score. Raza brought up a hard-earned fifty, his 27th in ODIs, while Burl chipped in with 31 off 45 balls. Their 60-run partnership offered Zimbabwe a way back before Nabi broke it, having Burl caught at deep square leg. Nabi soon had Wessly Madhevere stumped, claiming his 300th international wicket in the process.

With wickets tumbling at the other end, Raza attempted to hold the innings together. But Rashid took over, trapping Brad Evans lbw and bowling Newman Nyamhuri before ending Raza's resistance by having him caught at long-off, soon after the batter had hit him for a six. Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza frustrated Afghanistan with a stubborn last-wicket stand worth 32 runs before Sami eventually broke through, bowling Zimbabwe out in the 44th over.

Afghanistan's openers got the chase off to a brisk start, with Gurbaz taking the attack to Zimbabwe's bowlers alongside Zadran. Gurbaz struck four fours and two sixes in his 31-ball knock before Nyamhuri had him caught at backward point. Sediqullah Atal also fell to Nyamhuri for six, but Zadran kept the innings on course, bringing up a well-paced half-century. Rahmat provided solid support from the other end as Afghanistan moved steadily towards the target.

The third wicket pair added 82 before Rahmat's 63-ball stay ended when Wessly Madhevere pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at mid-wicket. But the breakthrough came too late to alter the outcome. Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Zadran and the pair completed the chase with ease. Shahidi cut Madhevere for a four in the 35th over to seal Afghanistan's tri-series title with seven wickets in hand.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 169 all-out in 43.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 68, Ryan Burl 31; Rashid Khan 3-41, Mohammad Nabi 2-25) lost to Afghanistan 170/3 in 34.3 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 79*, Rahmat Shah 43; Newman Nyamhuri 2-30) by 7 wickets.