Afghanistan A team made a fine start to their ODI tour by beating Zimbabwe A by five wickets on Friday in their first match of the Afghanistan Development Squad tour to Zimbabwe.

However, the match was disrupted by rain – with the innings limited to 28 overs each.

There were concerns that the match, and even the entire tour, could fall victim to the weather but despite heavy overnight rain in Harare, the match got underway at 1.45pm.

Afghanistan won the toss, which proved a considerable advantage, and chose to bowl first.

Conditions were difficult for batting, with the pitch still damp. Zimbabwe was finally dismissed for 120 off 26.5 overs.

In these conditions it was by no means as poor a total as it appeared, but it gave the Afghan team confidence.

The Afghan team won by a comfortable five wickets. The two sides will meet again on Sunday for the second game of the five-match series in Harare.