Raza and Omarzai hundreds light up Sharjah as Afghanistan take series
SHARJAH – Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza and Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai both scored centuries in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening. Afghanistan won by 19 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Afghanistan posted 221 for seven after slumping to five for four in the fourth over. Zimbabwe replied with 202 for five, led by Raza’s unbeaten 106 off 56 balls.
Zimbabwe chose to field, and their seamers ripped through Afghanistan’s top order. Brad Evans dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Akram, both for ducks, in the first over.
Fellow pacer Kundai Matigimu bowled captain Ibrahim Zadran with his first ball and had Shahidullah caught behind with his second, completing a double-wicket maiden.
Legspinner Vincent Masekesa, making his T20I debut, removed Sediqullah Atal to leave Afghanistan reeling at 38 for five in the ninth over.
Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai then added 142 for the sixth wicket to revive the innings. Omarzai smashed 116 off 50 balls, including five fours and 12 sixes, while Ahmadzai made 52 off 27 balls. Rashid Khan struck four sixes in the final over as Afghanistan plundered 103 runs in the last five overs.
Zimbabwe reached 59 for two in the powerplay, helped by Innocent Kaia’s 25 off 13 balls and Brian Bennett’s 22 off 15. However, they slipped to 82 for five after 10 overs, needing 140 from the final 60 balls.
Raza and debutant Tafadzwa Tsiga responded with an unbroken 120-run stand for the sixth wicket. Raza reached his second T20I century off 54 balls, hitting five fours and nine sixes.
He kept his helmet on and simply raised his bat towards the dressing room, with Zimbabwe still short of the target. Tsiga finished unbeaten on 31 off 23 balls.
Abdollah Ahmadzai took two for 34 for Afghanistan, while Rashid claimed one for 29.
The result means Afghanistan have won all five white-ball matches against Zimbabwe on the tour, including three ODIs and two T20Is. Zimbabwe, one of the co-hosts of the 2027 World Cup, have Sunday’s third T20I and two Tests in November remaining.
The two sides will meet again in Group A of the 2027 World Cup in Bulawayo next October.
