Cricket: Zimbabwe level Afghanistan ODI series

Chamu Chibhabha starred with bat and ball as Zimbabwe comprehensively beat Afghanistan by 65 runs to set up a winner-takes-all fifth one-day international.

Zimbabwe won the third contest by a whopping 117 runs and Chibhabha was instrumental in levelling the series at 2-2 in Sharjah on Monday.

He scored 53 as part of a fine opening stand with Peter Moor (52), before a batting collapse left Zimbabwe 226 all out.

But Afghanistan, bowled out for just 58 in the third match, once again toiled with the bat as Chibhabha returned 4-25

Zimbabwe chose to bat after winning the toss and Moor and Chibhabha hit contrasting half centuries as part of a 92-run partnership.

While Chibhabha was happy to take singles, Moor went on the attack with four slog sweeps over the ropes in the space of seven deliveries.

A fifth attempt off Rashid Khan (3-43) proved his undoing as he prodded a simple catch to long on.

Chibhabha's dismissal off a mistimed pull to a diving Asghar Stanikzai then initiated Zimbabwe's collapse as their last seven wickets fell in 10.1 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza (26), Zimbabwe's highest scorer in the series, put on 28 with Richmond Mutumbami (14) for the fourth wicket but that proved their last stand of note.

Afghanistan were poor in reply, though, and Neville Madziva (2-22) snared Noor Ali Zadran (4) and Stanikzai (2) early in the chase.

Mohammad Shahzad contributed 45 off 72 before Chibhabha made the crucial breakthrough with a plumb lbw.

Hashmatullah Shahidi (31) offered some resistance, but Chibhabha claimed Karim Sadiq (5), Shafiqullah (2) and Mirwais Ashraf (18) as Afghanistan's tail wilted.