Omarzai Ton Seals Afghanistan Series Win Over Zimbabwe
Azmatullah Omarzai’s explosive century outshone Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten hundred as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in Sharjah. The Omarzai ton Afghanistan Zimbabwe series win came in the second Twenty20 international on Thursday, October 29. It gave Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one game left to play. Afghanistan had won the first match by 37 runs on October 27.
From 5 for 4 to 221 for 7
Afghanistan’s innings began in disaster. Batting first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, they slumped to 5 for 4 in 3.2 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wasim Akram and Shahidullah were dismissed for ducks. Captain Ibrahim Zadran managed just one run off nine balls. Sediqullah Atal added 17 off 21 balls, with two boundaries, before the recovery began. Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai then staged a remarkable fightback with a 142-run partnership. The stand is the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in Twenty20 internationals. Afghanistan were still on 45 for 5 at halfway, yet they hammered 176 runs from their last ten overs.
Omarzai led the turnaround with a blistering 116 off just 50 balls. He struck five boundaries and 12 sixes. It was his maiden Twenty20 international century, reached off 44 balls. Ahmadzai gave him excellent support with 52 off 27 balls, including five fours and three sixes. Rashid Khan then added the finishing touches with an unbeaten six-ball 25, striking four sixes. That lifted Afghanistan past the 220-run mark to 221 for 7. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans and Kundai Matigimu claimed two wickets each. Ernest Masuku, Vincent Masekesa and Raza picked up one wicket each.
Raza’s century in a losing cause
Zimbabwe chased 222 and finished on 202 for 5. Captain Sikandar Raza kept his side in the game with an unbeaten 106 off 56 balls. He struck five fours and nine sixes. Tafadzwa Tsiga stayed unbeaten on 31 off 23 balls. Openers Brian Bennett and Innocent Kaia added 22 and 25 runs respectively. Zimbabwe, however, fell 19 runs short of the target. Abdollah Ahmadzai led Afghanistan’s bowling with two wickets for 34 runs in four overs. Fareed Ahmad, Omarzai and Rashid claimed one wicket each.
Rashid reaches 200 Twenty20 wickets
The match also marked a historic milestone for Rashid Khan. He became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men’s Twenty20 internationals. He reached the mark by dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani for two runs during Zimbabwe’s chase. Rashid finished with figures of one wicket for 29 runs from four overs. He had already made his mark with the bat, with his six-ball 25 at the end of Afghanistan’s innings. The record adds to a career built on consistent impact in the shortest format. It also underlines why Afghanistan could defend 221 even as Raza threatened to steal the game late on.
What the series win means
Afghanistan’s win shows how quickly a Twenty20 match can turn. At 5 for 4, they looked beaten. At 221 for 7, they had posted their third-highest Twenty20 international total. They also became the first men’s Twenty20 side to pass 200 after losing their first four wickets for fewer than 20 runs. For Zimbabwe, Raza’s century will be a bright point in a losing series. He carried the chase almost alone after the early wickets fell. The third match now becomes a chance for Zimbabwe to avoid a clean sweep, and for Afghanistan to finish the series 3-0. Elsewhere in cricket this week, Jomel Warrican’s five wickets put West Indies on top in the Mirpur Test against Bangladesh, England beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the Lahore tri-series, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson backed his senior players for the tri-series final against Sri Lanka, and Australia pushed for victory in the Cape Town Test.
Who was player of the match?
Azmatullah Omarzai was named player of the match for his 116 off 50 balls and one wicket, after leading Afghanistan’s recovery from 5 for 4.
What was the highest partnership in the match?
Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai added 142 runs for the sixth wicket, the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in men’s Twenty20 internationals.
What record did Rashid Khan set?
Rashid Khan became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in men’s Twenty20 internationals, after dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani during Zimbabwe’s chase.
Sources: Geo Super, ESPNcricinfo, SAMAA
