Rain Halts Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st ODI With Afghanistan in Charge

Relentless Rain Wipes Out Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan ODI

Cricket fans hoping for a fiery start to the ODI series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan were left frustrated as pouring rain in Harare abruptly ended the opening match. All eyes had been on the Harare Sports Club on December 17, 2024, but persistent showers only allowed 9.2 overs of game time. By then, Afghanistan’s bowlers—led by Azmatullah Omarzai—had already put their stamp on the contest, sending Zimbabwe's batting order crashing and raising questions about what might have happened if the weather had played along.

Omarzai Dominates as Zimbabwe Collapses Early

Zimbabwe didn’t find their rhythm. The mood in the hosts’ dressing room must have been heavy as wickets tumbled one after the other. Omarzai, with his sharp seam bowling, found immediate success by grabbing four quick wickets. He dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order, mixing deliveries and keeping the batters guessing. His accuracy and aggression were too much to handle, with a flurry of dismissals—caught edges, clinical bowled outs, and even a couple of LBWs. It isn’t every day you see a bowler almost single-handedly turning a match in less than ten overs, and Omarzai’s spell did just that, shaking any confidence Zimbabwe brought into the series.

Zimbabwe’s scoreboard told a grim story: 44 runs for five wickets in under ten overs. Most batters barely got their eye in. Ben Curran, who had received his first international cap that morning, would have hoped for a longer stay in the middle to announce his arrival. Instead, his debut will be marked by frustration, watching most of the action from the pavilion as the match fizzled out before it ever began. The win probability was already being calculated at 79.42% for Afghanistan when rain began pouring harder, driving players and spectators to shelter and dampening any hopes of a contest.

The stadium atmosphere was thick with anticipation, only for the enchantment to dissolve with each passing rain cloud. Spectators wrapped in plastic and umbrellas lined the stands, but stubborn showers wouldn’t quit. The umpires tried waiting it out, but relentless downpours kept the covers on and the teams off the pitch. Eventually, it became clear: there was no chance for further play. The 1st ODI ended with no result, both teams left waiting, and fans stuck imagining what the rest of the match could have held if the weather had flipped the script.

Plenty of fingers will point at Harare’s unpredictable December weather, but cricket fans will remember Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st ODI for Omarzai’s spell and the cruel hand of rain—a dramatic opening, even without a finish.