- Omarzai’s century trumps Raza’s as Afghanistan series seals, taking Afghanistan 4 for 5 to 221, their third-highest T20I total, which is beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan turnaround with first century, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Afghanistan 221 for 7 (Omarzai 116, Ijaz Ahmad 52, Evans 2-40) defeated Zimbabwe 202 for 5 (Raza 106*, Abdollah 2-34) after 19 runs Afghanistan were 5 for 4 after four overs in the first innings.
- They finished the game on 221 for 7, with Zimbabwe securing spare balls while shots continued to fall from Sharjah.
- Azmatullah Omarzai’s 116 from 50 deliveries led to an extraordinary comeback and although Sikandar Raza responded with an unbeaten century, Afghanistan won by 19 runs and sealed the series 2-0 before the start of the game.
Omarzai’s century trumps Raza’s as Afghanistan series seals, taking Afghanistan 4 for 5 to 221, their third-highest T20I total, which is beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan turnaround with first century, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Afghanistan 221 for 7 (Omarzai 116, Ijaz Ahmad 52, Evans 2-40) defeated Zimbabwe 202 for 5 (Raza 106*, Abdollah 2-34) after 19 runs Afghanistan were 5 for 4 after four overs in the first innings.
They finished the game on 221 for 7, with Zimbabwe securing spare balls while shots continued to fall from Sharjah. Azmatullah Omarzai’s 116 from 50 deliveries led to an extraordinary comeback and although Sikandar Raza responded with an unbeaten century, Afghanistan won by 19 runs and sealed the series 2-0 before the start of the game. The bowlers who had established themselves as Afghanistan’s best were punished the most.
Brad Evans conceded 27 in his last over and Kundai Matigimu’s last two conceded 44. Rashid Khan hit an unbeaten six-ball 25 and then became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men’s T20Is. Afghanistan’s third-highest total also made them the first men’s T20I team to cross the 200 mark after losing their first four wickets by less than 20 runs.
Evans made Zimbabwe celebrate with his second delivery. Rahmanullah Gurbaz cut to a full ball at leg stump and finished with a lofted attempt towards Raza at cover. Two legal balls later, Mohammad Akram moved straight to the only fielder behind square on the leg side.
Both had fallen for ducks. Kundai Matigimu is harassed by his teammates, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026. Zimbabwe players assisted the bowling by jumping across the turf to intercept hard-hit shots. Afghanistan were five points behind when Matigimu entered the field and struck with his first throw, Ibrahim Zadran attempted a shot with little footwork and clipped his off-stump.
His second ball took Shahidullah Kamal’s outside edge to Tadiwanashe Marumani for another duck. Omarzai left the hat-trick ball alone and played the rest of a double-wicket maiden game. Sediqullah Atal briefly gave Afghanistan momentum with back-to-back fours off Evans, but then stormed towards debutant Vincent Masekesa and fell behind by 17 points.
Omarzai and Ijaz took some time to settle in and then began to get the Zimbabwe bowlers back on their feet and thinking about more. At halftime, Omarzai had 20 from 19 balls. He pulled Ryan Burl for six in the next over, then opened against Masekesa and waited in his crease to throw a flying throw straight before hitting back to work out four behind the square.
Raza paused between these shots to chat with the newcomer and then witnessed the attack himself. Omarzai bowled six balls to Raza and hit four of them through cover to reach his fifty from 31 balls. The next six were even better: He backed up, waited for a plane delivery, and lifted her upside down onto additional cover.
The over cost 19, and Matigimu returned to concede another 19 as Omarzai dragged a short ball over long-on and drove a full one over extra cover. Evans started his final with figures of 2 for 13 and Omarzai with 75. His first delivery was lost over square leg and his second over midwicket.
A full pitch was hit through the ceiling and a ball was thrown long into the pads. Omarzai had scored 22 from four deliveries and was on the verge of a hundred. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai scored a consecutive fifty, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, 29 October 2026. He scored the fifth run behind for four to complete his century and then with remarkable composure bowled the final delivery for a single.
Afghanistan had scored 65 from three overs. Omarzai eventually managed to get out after hitting Raza for two more sixes and left the game to congratulations from the Zimbabwe ctain and a standing ovation from his dugout. Ijaz began his acceleration by clearing a short ball from Burl off the ground.
He swept Raza for four and six, turned to help a rebound from Ernest Masuku over fine leg and crossed to the point. As Omarzai took the lead, Ijaz looked away for a long time, scoring eight balls in four overs. He quickly resumed his own attack against Masuku, hitting four boundaries in five deliveries.
Twice he improvised in front of the keeper and reached his fifty by pushing a long yorker over Marumani’s head. Masuku finally ended the record with a slower ball, firing a shot towards long-off where Tsiga let forward to complete the catch. Rashid came into the game with two overs remaining and faced a ball at the start of the last over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman gave him the shot and Rashid hit three consecutive sixes: a short-arm shot over mid-wicket, a shot over the extra cover and a hoick over the ground. A full toss resulted in a run while Rashid was denied a single. He finished with a wide bouncer over the leg boundary to take Afghanistan to 221.
Matigimu’s opening hit had been a double-wicket haul; His final attack cost 25 and completed a five-man attack worth 103. Innocent Kaia, who joined Brian Bennett, helped Zimbabwe to 16 points after Fareed Ahmad’s opener. Omarzai broke through when Kaia rolled a shot towards deep square leg for 25 before Abdollah removed Bennett with a slower ball and bowled Burl around the wicket with a full toss.
Rashid reached 200 wickets when Marumani missed a shot and was bowled in his second over. Fareed then had Wessly Madhevere sweep straight back for the third over, leaving Zimbabwe 82 for 5 at half-time. Raza and Tsiga then put up their own unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 120 runs.
Raza reached his fifty with a mid-wicket six off Mujeeb, then crouched down and asked for a drink as the heat and humidity took their toll. He continued to find the strength to do more, hitting Rashid straight for six and cutting it through cover. This was followed by consecutive sixes from Fareed, the second being bowled by Akram.
Shahidullah conceded ten goals in the penultimate round, leaving Zimbabwe needing six sixes in the final round. Raza reached his hundred, brushing Ijaz off the ground before hitting a single and raising his bat towards the plauding dugout. His ninth six off the last ball went through the roof and took Zimbabwe to 202 for 5.
It was a truly extravagant conclusion to an evening of extraordinary strikes. Afg vs Zim 2026 – Azmatullah Omarzai’s century trumps Sikandar Raza’s as Afghanistan’s series against Zimbabwe is sealed. Afghanistan improve 4 for 5 to 221, their third-highest T20I total, which is beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with first century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 It’s swirling – but the cover wins! Raza with the catch and Evans with the early strike.
Full on the leg and Gurbaz steps back to pass at cover or in the middle. But he finally did it, and it’s a duck, the new bowler hits the first ball! Matigium has Ibrahim, the ctain, cut.
It was a little fuller than the correct length and a little baggy on the outside. Ibrahim tried to beat him offside but with minimal footwork. He ends up letting the ball bounce off another duck and Akram punches a hole!
Evans with a dream start. Fairly short ball that runs at an angle and restricts the batsman as he rises to shoot. Hit the lone fielder behind square in the deep leg side, first wicket for Masekesa!
And Atal backs down before the TV referee’s answer. The ball was flatter and had good outside length, and the googly spun further. Atal came down the track and hit the ground but missed completely.
He tried to knock down the stick in time, but the goalkeeper had already removed the bails. By the way, this was portrayed as a tr because Atal also seems to have an advantage. That’s why he left before the replay keeper sounded, the bowler followed him and the umpire raised his finger!
Matigimu is on a hat-trick. Kamal has a duck too. Great throw, good ball length in the middle and slightly angled.
Shahidullah tries to defend by standing tall but the ball goes past the bat and hits the outside edge! steps back to throw it out of the ground, but ends up taking a long time on the way to the defensive player. Tossed up outside off.
For Raza and Zimbabwe, the change is finally working. Raza and Rashid congratulate Omarzai and he gets a standing ovation from the dugout as he walks back. One for the ages!
Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with maiden century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Azmatullah Omarzai brought up his maiden century in 44 balls, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Cutter does the job in the end! Reaches it full length outside and the batsman tries to time this one on the ground. The longfielder runs inside and catches a great catch as he les forward.
Completes an excellent round. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai scored consecutive fifty, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with first century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Azmatullah Omarzai discussed his first century in 44 balls, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 it’s swirling – but the cover wins! Raza with the catch and Evans with the early strike.
Full on the leg and Gurbaz steps back to pass at cover or in the middle. But in the end he put an end to it and it’s a duck, another duck and Akram makes a hole for himself! Evans with a dream start.
Fairly short ball that runs at an angle and restricts the batsman as he rises to shoot. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai bats against the lone fielder behind the field in deep leg and scores consecutive fifties, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026. Cutter does the job in the end! Reaches it full length outside and the batsman tries to time this one on the ground.
The longfielder runs inside and catches a great catch as he les forward. Completes an excellent round. new bowler strikes first ball!
Matigium has Ibrahim, the ctain, cut. It was a little fuller than the correct length and a little baggy on the outside. Ibrahim tried to beat him offside but with minimal footwork.
He ends up letting the ball bounce off the stump keeper’s punches, the bowler follows him and the umpire raises his finger! Matigimu is on a hat-trick. Kamal has a duck too.
Great throw, good ball length in the middle and slightly angled. Shahidullah tries to defend by standing tall but the ball goes past the bat and hits the outside edge! first wicket for Masekesa!
And Atal backs down before the TV referee’s answer. The ball was flatter and had good outside length, and the googly spun further. Atal came down the track and hit the ground but missed completely.
He tried to knock down the stick in time, but the goalkeeper had already removed the bails. By the way, this was portrayed as a tr because Atal also seems to have an advantage. Because of this, he was already underway before the replay, falling back to knock it out of the ground, but eventually pounced on the long defender.
Tossed up outside off. For Raza and Zimbabwe, the change is finally working. Raza and Rashid congratulate Omarzai and he receives a standing ovation from the dugout as he returns.
One for the ages! it swirls – but the cover wins! Raza with the catch and Evans with the early strike.
Full on the leg and Gurbaz steps back to pass at cover or in the middle. But in the end he put an end to it and it’s a duck, another duck and Akram makes a hole for himself! Evans with a dream start.
Fairly short ball that runs at an angle and restricts the batsman as he rises to shoot. Hit the lone fielder behind square into the deep leg side, the new bowler hits the first ball! Matigium has Ibrahim, the ctain, cut.
It was a little fuller than the correct length and a little baggy on the outside. Ibrahim tried to beat him offside but with minimal footwork. He ends up letting the ball bounce off the stump keeper’s punches, the bowler follows him and the umpire raises his finger!
Matigimu is on a hat-trick. Kamal has a duck too. Great throw, good ball length in the middle and slightly angled.
Shahidullah tries to defend by standing tall but the ball goes past the bat and hits the outside edge! first wicket for Masekesa! And Atal backs down before the TV referee’s answer.
The ball was flatter and had good outside length, and the googly spun further. Atal came down the track and hit the ground but missed completely. He tried to knock down the stick in time, but the goalkeeper had already removed the bails.
By the way, this was portrayed as a tr because Atal also seems to have an advantage. That’s why it worked before the replay cutter finally did its job! Reaches it full length outside and the batsman tries to time this one on the ground.
The longfielder runs inside and catches a great catch as he les forward. Completes an excellent round. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai scores consecutive fifties, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026. He steps back to flick this one out of the ground but ends up finding his way to the long fielder.
Tossed up outside off. For Raza and Zimbabwe, the change is finally working. Raza and Rashid congratulate Omarzai and he receives a standing ovation from the dugout as he returns.
One for the ages! Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with his first century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026. Azmatullah Omarzai spoke about his first century in 44 balls, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026. A slower ball forces an error! Gets into the rhythm, throws a full ball wide of goal, Bennett looks to hammer it into the ground but the lack of pace makes him delay the shot instead.
Middle right, who takes a hot one! The ball spins, but deep square leg catches it well! He storms down the lane as Omarzai follows him with a short ball.
Above, and the man deep keeps his eye on the ball until the end. He falls as the ball comes towards him and knocks it to the ground! Full and fast on the stumps.
Comes from the corner of the wicket, brings the ball in and Burl misses the drive. That has flattened the poles! The first bowler to take 200 T20I wickets in men’s cricket!
And Marumani is the victim. Lengthen the ball in the middle and straighten it up. Marumani misses the draw and is hit just ahead. Rashid Khan has Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw for his 200th wicket in T20Is, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026, Full Ball and he plays a reverse sweep.
It’s a good shot, but unfortunately for the batsman it went straight into the conventional short third! Full ball and he plays a reverse sweep. It’s a good shot, but unfortunately for the batsman it went straight into the conventional short third!
The ball spins, but deep square leg catches it well! He storms down the lane as Omarzai follows him with a short ball. Above, and the man deep keeps his eye on the ball until the end.
Falls as the ball comes to him, a slower ball forces the error! Gets into the rhythm, throws a full ball wide of goal, Bennett looks to hammer it into the ground but the lack of pace makes him delay the shot instead. Middle right, who takes a hot one!
Full and fast on the stumps. Comes from the corner of the wicket, brings the ball in and Burl misses the drive. That has flattened the poles!
Rashid Khan bowled Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw for his 200th wicket in T20Is, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, story from October 29, 2026! The first bowler to take 200 T20I wickets in men’s cricket! And Marumani is the victim.
Lengthen the ball in the middle and straighten it up. Marumani misses the move and is hit just in front of the ball spinning but deep square leg catches it well! He storms down the lane as Omarzai follows him with a short ball.
Above, and the man deep keeps his eye on the ball until the end. Falls as the ball comes to him, a slower ball forces the error! Gets into the rhythm, throws a full ball wide of goal, Bennett looks to hammer it into the ground but the lack of pace makes him delay the shot instead.
Middle right, who takes a hot one! Full and fast on the stumps. Comes from the corner of the wicket, brings the ball in and Burl misses the drive.
That has flattened the poles! The first bowler to take 200 T20I wickets in men’s cricket! And Marumani is the victim.
Lengthen the ball in the middle and straighten it up. Marumani misses the draw and is hit just ahead. Rashid Khan has Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw for his 200th wicket in T20Is, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026, Full Ball and he plays a reverse sweep. It’s a good shot, but unfortunately for the batsman it went straight into the conventional short third!
“Some of the things I saw on the field today certainly hurt my feelings and I will talk about it in the locker room.” On Thursday in Sharjah, Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan 5 for 4, then 45 for 5 after ten overs; Azmatullah Omarzai hit a 50-ball 116 from there to guide Afghanistan to victory. Azmatullah Omarzai hit 12 sixes in his hundred, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Rashid Khan bowled Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw for his 200th wicket in T20I, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Afg vs Zim 2026 – Azmatullah Omarzai’s century trumps Sikandar Raza’s as Afghanistan’s series against Zimbabwe is sealed. Afghanistan improve from 4 for 5 to 221, their third-highest T20I total, which is proven to be beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with his first century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Afg vs Zim 2026 – Zimbabwe debuts Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masakesa and plays in the toss against Afghans Ibrahim Zadran and Sikandar Raza, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 Afg vs Zim 2026 – Azmatullah Omarzai Century wins over Sikandar Raza to seal the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series. Afghanistan advance to 221 at 4 for 5, their third-highest T20I total, which is beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s turnaround with his first century, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I, Sharjah, October 29, 2026 AFG vs ZIM 2026/27, AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Match Report, October 29, 2026 2026 – Omarzai’s century trumps Razas as Afghanistan win the AFG series vs. ZIM seals match report 2026/27, Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe: Afghanistan posted the third-highest T20I total outside Zimbabwe’s reach of 4 for 5 and 221. Afghanistan went from 4 for 5 to 221, the third-highest T20I total beyond Zimbabwe’s reach.
