Reviewed by Praise Dumi DhlakamaZimbabwe sports betting writer
Published 30 October 2026
Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday to take the three-match T20I series with a game to spare, Azmatullah Omarzai’s 116 outweighing Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 106.
Zimbabwe had Afghanistan 38 for 5 before Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai put on 142 for the sixth wicket. Omarzai reached his first T20I century and finished on 116 from 50 balls, with 12 sixes. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai made 52 off 27 and Rashid Khan 25 not out off 6. Afghanistan closed on 221 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Raza carries the chase
Zimbabwe were 82 for 5 at the halfway stage of the chase, and from there Raza and Tafadzwa Tsiga batted out the innings. The captain finished unbeaten on 106 from 56 balls with 9 sixes, Tsiga on 31 not out off 23, and Zimbabwe ended on 202 for 5.
Abdollah Ahmadzai took 2 for 34 from his 4 overs, the only Afghan bowler with more than one wicket. Rashid Khan conceded 29 from his 4 and took the wicket of Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Series decided with one match left
Afghanistan lead the series 2-0 with one match to play. Zimbabwe came to the United Arab Emirates for this three-match T20I series after a difficult one-day tri-series, and the short format has not changed the pattern.
Raza’s hundred was his own: he was unbeaten at the end of an innings in which Zimbabwe had lost five wickets inside ten overs. The third T20I of the series is still to be played, and for readers following Zimbabwe sports news it is now about the batting around the captain.
