Omarzai century seals Afghanistan series win despite Raza hundred

DUBAI | 30-10-2026 : Azmatullah Omarzai’s 116 from 50 balls helped Afghanistan overcome an early batting collapse and beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Sharjah on 29 October 2026, securing the series. According to BBC Sport’s scorecard, Afghanistan made 221 for seven before restricting Zimbabwe to 202 for five despite an unbeaten 106 from Sikandar Raza.

ESPNcricinfo reported that Afghanistan’s total was their third-highest in T20 internationals. Their recovery began from five runs for four wickets, with BBC Sport recording another dismissal at 38 before Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai transformed the innings.

Omarzai leads recovery after early wickets

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, according to BBC Sport. Brad Evans immediately put Afghanistan under pressure, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Akram for ducks in the opening over. Kundai Matigimu then removed Ibrahim Zadran for one and Shahidullah Kamal for a first-ball duck.

Sediq Atal contributed 17 from 21 deliveries before falling to Vincent Masekesa. BBC Sport’s fall-of-wicket record places Afghanistan at 38 for five after 8.1 overs, leaving their remaining batters to rebuild while also lifting the scoring rate.

Omarzai supplied the decisive acceleration. His innings included five fours and 12 sixes, with a strike rate of 232, according to the BBC scorecard. Ijaz provided substantial support with 52 from 27 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes before being dismissed by Ernest Masuku at the end of the 18th over.

Afghanistan had reached 180 for six when Ijaz departed. Omarzai followed at 195 for seven, caught by Evans off Raza, but Rashid Khan added an unbeaten 25 from only six deliveries. Four of those balls went for six, helping Afghanistan finish on 221 for seven.

BBC Sport’s bowling figures show Evans taking two for 40 and Matigimu two for 48. Masekesa conceded 21 runs from three overs while taking one wicket, whereas Raza’s four overs cost 53 runs for his wicket of Omarzai.

Raza hundred cannot complete the chase

Zimbabwe’s reply featured useful early contributions from Innocent Kaia, who made 25 from 13 balls, and Brian Bennett, who scored 22 from 15. According to BBC Sport, Omarzai dismissed Kaia with the total at 39, before Abdullah Ahmadzai removed Bennett at 59 for two.

Further wickets interrupted the pursuit. Abdullah bowled Ryan Burl for two, Rashid trapped Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw for two, and Fareed Ahmad Malik dismissed Wessly Madhevere for four. Zimbabwe were 82 for five at the end of the 10th over, the BBC scorecard records.

Raza remained unbeaten on 106 from 56 balls, striking five fours and nine sixes. Tafadzwa Tsiga finished alongside him on 31 from 23 deliveries, including one four and two sixes. Zimbabwe lost no further wickets but ended their 20 overs short of Afghanistan’s total.

Abdullah finished with two for 34 from four overs, while Rashid conceded 29 from his four and took one wicket. Omarzai also contributed one for 17 from two overs. Both ESPNcricinfo and BBC Sport reported that the victory secured the series for Afghanistan, with Omarzai’s century outweighing Raza’s unbeaten effort.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo; BBC Sport.