Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in the second T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, posting 221/7 before holding the visitors to 202/5. Azmatullah Omarzai transformed a faltering innings with a century, giving Afghanistan enough runs to withstand a substantial response.
Omarzai leads Afghanistan's recovery
Zimbabwe's decision to bowl brought immediate rewards. Brad Evans removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Akram Zazai in the opening over, both without scoring. Kundai Matigimu then bowled Ibrahim Zadran for 1 and had Shahidullah Kamal caught behind by Tadiwanashe Marumani on consecutive deliveries, leaving Afghanistan 5/4 at 3.2 overs.
Sediqullah Atal helped Omarzai begin the repair in a 33-run fifth-wicket partnership. But when Vincent Masekesa dismissed Atal for 17 from 21 balls at 8.1 overs, Afghanistan were still only 38/5. Their recovery needed more than survival.
Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai supplied it with a sixth-wicket stand of 142. Omarzai made 116 from 50 balls, hitting 12 sixes and five fours, while Ijaz contributed 52 from 27 with five fours and three sixes. Their boundary-hitting changed the scale of an innings Zimbabwe had initially controlled.
Ernest Masuku finally broke the partnership from the last ball of the 18th over, with Matigimu catching Ijaz at 180/6. Sikandar Raza then had Omarzai caught by Evans at 195/7 in the following over, but the wickets did not prevent a forceful finish.
Rashid Khan struck four sixes in an unbeaten 25 from six balls. His unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 26 with Mujeeb Ur Rahman ensured Afghanistan carried their recovery through to the close.
Raza's century cannot complete the chase
Zimbabwe began with a 39-run opening partnership. Innocent Kaia made 25 from 13 balls before Omarzai had him caught by Shahidullah. Brian Bennett followed for 22 from 15, caught by Rashid off Abdullah Ahmadzai, leaving Zimbabwe 59/2 at 5.5 overs.
Abdullah bowled Ryan Burl for 2, Rashid trapped Marumani lbw for the same score, and Fareed Ahmad dismissed Wesley Madhevere for 4, caught by Zazai. Zimbabwe reached the halfway point at 82/5, with Raza still there but little continuity around him.
Tafadzwa Tsiga provided that support. He finished unbeaten on 31 from 23 balls, including a four and two sixes, as he and Raza added an unbroken 120 for the sixth wicket. Raza's 106 not out from 56 balls contained nine sixes and five fours, keeping Zimbabwe's innings productive despite the earlier wickets.
Their partnership restored the chase without overturning Afghanistan's advantage. Abdullah finished with 2/34 and Rashid with 1/29, each from four overs; their spells combined wickets with restraint in a match dominated by substantial hitting.
The result gave Afghanistan a 2–0 lead with one match remaining in the Zimbabwe tour of Afghanistan 2026, securing the series. See the full scorecard.