Afghanistan sealed the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe in spectacular fashion at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, 29 October 2026, winning the second T20I by 19 runs. Afghanistan posted 221 for 7 in their 20 overs and then held Zimbabwe to 202 for 5, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead with the third and final T20I still to play on 1 November.
The hero was Azmatullah Omarzai, who was named Player of the Match for a breathtaking 116 off just 50 balls. His innings rescued Afghanistan from a collapse that had left them at 5 for 4, and it proved just enough to withstand a magnificent unbeaten century from Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. In a match that produced 423 runs and two centuries, it was Omarzai’s counter-attack that decided the series.
Match Summary
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field first, and for a while that decision looked inspired. Their bowlers tore through Afghanistan’s top order in the powerplay, leaving the series leaders in deep trouble. But Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai turned the match on its head with a record sixth-wicket partnership, and a late burst from Rashid Khan pushed Afghanistan past 220. Zimbabwe’s chase started brightly and was kept alive by Raza, but the required rate kept climbing and Afghanistan closed out a 19-run win.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 221 for 7 (20 overs) | Won by 19 runs |
| Zimbabwe | 202 for 5 (20 overs) | Lost by 19 runs |
Afghanistan Innings
Afghanistan’s innings began disastrously. Brad Evans removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Akram in the opening over, both without scoring, and Kundai Matigimu then bowled captain Ibrahim Zadran for just 1 and had Shahidullah Kamal caught behind on consecutive deliveries. At 5 for 4 in the fourth over, Afghanistan were in danger of being bowled out for a very small total.
Sediqullah Atal helped Omarzai begin the repair with a 33-run fifth-wicket partnership, but when Vincent Masekesa dismissed Atal for 17 from 21 balls, Afghanistan were still only 38 for 5 after 8.1 overs. What followed was one of the great T20I recoveries. Omarzai, who had reached his fifty from 31 balls, accelerated dramatically, bringing up his century from just 44 balls with five fours and ten sixes at that stage, before finishing with 116 from 50 balls, including five fours and 12 sixes.
Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai was the perfect partner, scoring 52 from 27 balls with five fours and three sixes. Together, Omarzai and Ijaz added 142 runs for the sixth wicket from 59 balls, a new Afghanistan record for that wicket in T20Is. Ernest Masuku finally broke the stand on the last ball of the 18th over, and Raza then had Omarzai caught by Evans, but the damage was done. Rashid Khan struck four sixes in an unbeaten 25 from just six balls, and with Mujeeb Ur Rahman unbeaten on 2, Afghanistan finished on 221 for 7.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans took 2 for 40 and Kundai Matigimu took 2 for 48, while Vincent Masekesa was the most economical bowler with 1 for 21 from three overs. But after their dream start, Zimbabwe’s bowlers could not contain Omarzai and Ijaz once the partnership took hold, and the total slipped far beyond what had looked possible at 5 for 4.
Zimbabwe Innings
Chasing 222, Zimbabwe made a bright start. Innocent Kaia hit 25 from 13 balls before falling to Omarzai, and Brian Bennett made 22 from 15, as Zimbabwe passed fifty inside five overs and reached 59 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. But the middle overs slowed them down badly. Ryan Burl fell for 2, Tadiwanashe Marumani for 2, and Wesley Madhevere for 4, and by the time the fifth wicket fell at 82, Zimbabwe needed a miracle.
Sikandar Raza almost provided one. The Zimbabwe captain reached his fifty from 34 balls and then shared an unbroken 120-run sixth-wicket partnership with Tafadzwa Tsiga, who finished unbeaten on 31 from 23 balls. Raza brought up his century from 54 balls and finished unbeaten on 106 from 56 balls, with five fours and nine sixes, but the target was always just beyond reach. Zimbabwe closed on 202 for 5, 19 runs short.
Afghanistan’s bowlers shared the work. Abdullah Ahmadzai took 2 for 34, Rashid Khan took 1 for 29 from four overs, Omarzai took 1 for 17 from two overs, and Fareed Ahmad Malik took 1 for 51. It was not a night for containment, with Zimbabwe scoring at 10.10 runs per over, but Afghanistan’s early strikes in the chase and the sheer size of their total meant Raza’s century, brilliant as it was, came in a losing cause.
Key Performances
- Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan): 116 from 50 balls (5 fours, 12 sixes) and 1 for 17 — Player of the Match, and the innings that won the series.
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): unbeaten 106 from 56 balls (5 fours, 9 sixes) — a captain’s century that kept Zimbabwe in the chase until the end.
- Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai (Afghanistan): 52 from 27 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) — the crucial support act in the record 142-run sixth-wicket stand.
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): unbeaten 25 from 6 balls (4 sixes) and 1 for 29 — the late burst that took Afghanistan past 220.
- Brad Evans and Kundai Matigimu (Zimbabwe): 2 wickets each — the bowlers who reduced Afghanistan to 5 for 4 before the recovery.
Also read our preview of this match, our recap of India’s series win over New Zealand, and England’s consolation win over Sri Lanka.
What It Means for the Series
Afghanistan now lead the three-match series 2-0, so the series is sealed with one match still to play. That is a significant statement from Ibrahim Zadran’s side — note that Zadran, not Rashid Khan, is Afghanistan’s captain in this series, a point the preview had originally listed incorrectly. Afghanistan have now beaten Zimbabwe in both T20Is in this series, after winning the first match by 37 runs on 27 October, when they made 177 and bowled Zimbabwe out for 140.
For Zimbabwe, this was the one that got away. They had Afghanistan at 5 for 4 and at 38 for 5, and a win here would have levelled the series at 1-1 and set up a decider. Instead, they must now play the third T20I on 1 November for pride, and to avoid a 3-0 sweep. Their positives are real — Raza’s century, Tsiga’s unbeaten 31, and a new-ball burst that troubled Afghanistan’s top order — but they will know that letting a 221 total slip from 5 for 4 is the moment the series was lost.
For Afghanistan, the win confirms their dominance in this fixture and the depth of their batting. Even when the top order failed, Omarzai and Ijaz produced a match-winning partnership, and Rashid finished the innings in style. With the series won, the third T20I on 1 November is a chance to complete a clean sweep and to give other squad members a game.
FAQs
1. What was the result of Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I? — Afghanistan won by 19 runs: Afghanistan 221 for 7 beat Zimbabwe 202 for 5 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 29 October 2026.
2. Who was Player of the Match? — Azmatullah Omarzai, for his 116 from 50 balls and 1 for 17 with the ball.
3. Who is Afghanistan’s captain in this series? — Ibrahim Zadran. Rashid Khan plays as a senior player and finisher, but Zadran is the captain.
4. What is the series score now? — Afghanistan lead 2-0 after winning the first T20I by 37 runs and the second by 19 runs. The third T20I is on 1 November.
5. Did Sikandar Raza score a century? — Yes. The Zimbabwe captain finished unbeaten on 106 from 56 balls, but Zimbabwe still fell 19 runs short.
Conclusion
This was a match that swung from one extreme to the other. Zimbabwe were on top at 5 for 4, Afghanistan were on top at 221 for 7, and then Sikandar Raza’s century dragged Zimbabwe back into contention before the target finally proved too steep. In the end, the difference was one extraordinary innings: Azmatullah Omarzai’s 116 turned a collapse into a series-winning total, and that is why Afghanistan, not Zimbabwe, are celebrating a 2-0 series lead.
The final match of the series, on 1 November, now has a different feel. Afghanistan will chase a 3-0 sweep, while Zimbabwe will chase a consolation win and a reminder of what might have been had they finished the job at 5 for 4 in Sharjah.
Full scorecard for this match: https://www.crictracker.com/live-scores/afg-vs-zim-2nd-t20i-afghanistan-vs-zimbabwe-in-uae-29-oct-2026/full-scorecard/
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