Afghanistan survived a middle-order batting collapse to claim a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Sharjah on Tuesday and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series.Wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad held his nerve as wickets tumbled around him, scoring an unbeaten 131 — the highest ODI score by an Afghan batsman — to help the non-Test playing nation chase down a target of 254 with 14 balls to spare.Afghanistan were cruising at 169 for 1, but the run out of Mohammad Nabi triggered an alarming collapse that saw them lose five wickets for just 29 runs.However, an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 56 between Shahzad and Mirwais Ashraf (26 not out) saw them over the line as Afghanistan bid to follow up a 3-2 win in the ODI series in Zimbabwe in October.Zimbabwe, who were skittled out for just 82 in the first ODI on Friday, posted a far more competitive total this time although it still fell short.The tourists reached 253 for 7 from their alloted 50 overs with half-centures from Craig Ervine (73) and opener Peter Moor (50), while Afghan seamer Dawlat Zadran took 3 for 57.Brief scores: Zimbabwe 253 for 7 in 50 overs (Craig Ervine 73, Peter Moor 50; Dawlat Zadran 3 for 57) Afghanistan 254 for 6 in 47.4 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 131 not out; Elton Chigumbura 3 for 32).
