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RESULTT20I2nd T20I · Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe
Afghanistan won by 19 runs
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl
- Match
- Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I
- Date
- 29 Oct 2026 to 29 Oct 2026
- Start
- 20:00 IST · 14:30 GMT
- Venue
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Toss
- Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl
Venue guide
- Capacity
- 16,000
- Opened
- 1982
- Ends
- Pavilion End, Sharjah Club End
- Home to
- United Arab Emirates
- Floodlights
- Yes
Recent meetings
| Azmatullah OmarzaiAfghanistan · All-rounder | 116 (50)Bat · R (B) | 54s | 126s | 232.0SR | c Brad Evans b Sikandar RazaOut | 2.0-0-17-1Bowl · O-M-R-W | 8.50Econ |
AFGAfghanistan 221/7 (20.0)
ZIMZimbabwe 202/5 (20.0)
RUNS PER OVER
SCORE BY OVER
Final overs
Full commentary- The series is done and dusted and Zimbabwe's wait for a maiden T20I series win against Afghanistan continues. We still have a game to go in the series and that's on the 1st of November. Same venue, same time, same Cricbuzz the place to be to catch all the action. Do join us then. Loads of cricket on the platform, so do check it out. See you soon. Ta, ta and bye bye....
- Ibrahim 2/2: [On rotating the squad and giving opportunities ahead of the 2028 World Cup] Yeah, definitely. If you look at today’s game, we have rested two guys, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Noor Ahmad. They bowled really well in the last game, and we have given chance to Abdullah Ahmadzai and Fareed Malik. This is the opportunity that we should give to them until we’re going to go for the '28 World Cup. So every single game, every series is very important for us to win a game, to win a series. Along with that, opportunity is also important to give to the players that they feel themselves that we’re going to do something for the country.
- Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan captain 1/2: [On Afghanistan's recovery from 5/4 and the middle-order partnership] Yes, we were a bit panicked and we didn’t expect that much total we will put on the board. But the way Azmat and Ijaz showed the display, it was unbelievable. And the way Rashid finished the game, it was brilliant. I’m giving again credit to them. They have batted really well, and yeah, we put a very good total on the board. [On the team's batting depth and the need for the top order to improve] Definitely, if you look at the past, we had a very good start in the powerplay. The top order, we were a bit struggling in that area, but it’s a very positive sign for the team that if we don’t get a good start in the powerplay, at the start, then guys are there, quality is there, you know, of them to show their display and back each other. And that’s a very positive sign for Afghanistan, for us, that we can change the game from any situation. I will say, yes, as a batting unit, as a top order guys, we will think about it, how to cover that areas that we didn’t get a good start in this series in the powerplay. Yeah, I’m pretty sure we will cover that area as soon as possible.
- Raza 2/2: [On the support Zimbabwe receive from their fans] Oh, they are very loyal, absolutely, and what a joy to have the fans behind you. [On the complacency he observed in the team and the need for greater mental strength] For me, before I go too much in detail, and I will address that in the changing room, for me the toughest part to swallow was the complacency that I saw from some of the boys. Some of the boys were probably calculating that it will be 130, 140 max at the end of 20 overs. Some of the things that I saw on the ground today certainly hurt me, and I’ll address that in the changing room because, listen, it can happen. But I think that’s where you have to be mentally very strong and say, No, the game’s never over until it’s over. We still have a job in hand, and I’m going to be the guy who’s going to get the job done rather than looking at somebody that he can do it for me or he can do it for me. Before I dissect the game with batting or bowling, I think that’s something that I felt today out there in the middle, and that’s something that needs to be addressed, not to take this game for granted because it can bite back, and today is a great example. [On saving his further comments for the dressing room] I won’t be saying the way I said it to you in the changing room (smiles wryly at Farhad Fidai the interviewer).
- Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe captain 1/2: [On constructing his century while chasing 222] Yeah, when you're chasing 222, for me the biggest thing was to try and stay in control of my emotions, because the way we conducted ourselves in the first innings certainly hurt me. So when we go out to bat, for me it was try and win the game from any position. That has been our motto, and in my head I was just calculating how best can I go about my business and hopefully the other batters chip in so that we can win the game. Up until the last two overs we were backing ourselves to win the game, but yeah, I think we left ourselves too much. [On the team's efforts to represent Zimbabwe and the loyalty of its fans] Yeah, certainly. Like I said, I think it was in the last series when Australia came to us and there was a press, and the question was asked and I said that regardless of where Zimbabwe goes now, these real fans that come to the ground, they see how hard we try, they see how hard we work, they see how much effort we are putting in, and we have Zimbabwe at heart and we’re trying to do our utmost best to try and lift our country’s flag and to bring more respect to our country, and they appreciate that. As long as we’re fighting and as long as we try to push all of us together in the right direction, these fans will go nowhere. They have been very loyal and they will stay loyal as long as we keep doing the things that we’re supposed to do and they see it. So I just want to say thank you very much.
- Azmatullah Omarzai | Player of the Match: [On scoring his maiden T20I century and Afghanistan's recovery] I did my first century in T20I, and yeah, as you mentioned, it was amazing for me and for Afghanistan team. The way I just came and then we started smashing, and we were looking just... we were in pressure, and I just spoke with Ijaz: we have to go for boundaries, otherwise the pressure is coming more on us. That's why we started, and then we... [On his partnership with Ijaz Ahmadzai and maintaining the scoring momentum] Yeah, I enjoy a lot, and I just... speaking with Ijaz, the way you played in last game and you smashed from first ball, don't take any pressure, just play your game and wait for your ball. When he came and then he start boundaries, then it gave me a lot of confidence, and then I was trying to keep that momentum, don't let them put pressure on us. That's why I was trying to hit boundary. If he hitting one, I try to hit one again. [On the importance of breaking Zimbabwe's momentum with that Kaia wicket] We need that wicket early because they were hitting well and they were scoring. I was telling to Rashid, I'm just going to take wicket, and he said, Okay, just try. And I tried to bowl for wicket, and then Alhamdulillah I took that wicket.
- Rashid Khan took his 200th T20I wicket tonight - the first man to do so. Watch how he got there.
- STAT: 8th successive T20I series that Afghanistan have won against Zimbabwe, who are yet to win one.
- 22:05 Local Time, 18:05 GMT, 23:35 IST: Valiant effort by Sikandar Raza but he can't prevent his side from losing. Rashid Khan comes and embraces him in a warm hug. They are good friends and were seen having a long chat before the match today. Zimbabwe will only be wondering how they allowed Afghanistan to post 221 from 5/4. That's where the game was lost. A new opening combo came out today as Bennett and Kaia started well. Then Raza came at 3 and was there till the end. But 221 proved to be 19 too many. Had someone helped Raza out a bit more with the bat, Zimbabwe might well have pulled this off. Ryan Burl falling cheaply hurt Zimbabwe for the left-hander could've scored in quick time. Raza though kept fighting till the end and deservedly reached his 2nd T20I ton. Tafadzwa Tsiga gave him good company and he looked impressive with the bat on debut. Rashid and the skiddy Abdullah shone for the hosts. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....
- End of over 20 · 16 runs (1 wd 6 1 1 0 6)ZIM 202/5Sikandar Raza 106(56) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 31(23) · Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai 1-0-16-0
- 19.66Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Afghanistan seal the series but Sikandar Raza has landed another ball on the roof. If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd one of the night for him. Full outside off, he sinks low and swings it miles over deep backward square-leg. Lands on the roof but Afghanistan win by 19 runs
- 19.5•Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, no run, low full-toss outside off, Sikandar Raza looks to slog to leg and misses
- 19.41Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, very full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to long-on
- 19.31Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Sikandar Raza take a bow! His 2nd T20I 100. First against a Full Member. Met with a hug by Tafadzwa Tsiga. No extravagant celebrations understandably. Just raises the bat to the dugout. Gets there by driving the low full-toss to deep extra-cover
- A replacement ball now.
- 19.26Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, full and in the slot and it has gone over the roof at long-on. Sikandar Raza sinks on his back knee, lofts and he has really hit that well. Change of ball as well as that one has gone out of the ground. A souvenir for someone outside the stadium
- 19.2wdIjaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, wide, and he bowls a wide miles outside off. Almost didn't land on the cutstrip
- 19.11Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, very full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to sweeper cover. That should be the game provided Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai doesn't bowl any extras
- Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
- End of over 19 · 10 runs (1 0 wd 0 1 1 6)ZIM 186/5Sikandar Raza 93(52) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 29(21) · Shahidullah Kamal 1-0-10-0
- 18.66Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, SIX, the 100-run stand is up. It's too late though this hit. It's a good length delivery around off, Sikandar Raza sits deep in his crease, pulls over the deep square leg fence
- 18.51Shahidullah Kamal to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, flat good length and into the pitch outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to force it wide of long-off
- 18.41Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, length delivery outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and miscues it to deep extra-cover on the bounce. This time he takes the run
- 18.3•Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, no run, the ump shakes his head as Sikandar Raza isn't happy. It's a flat good length delivery and just inside the tramline. A fair call from the ump, Raza left it outside off
- 18.3wdShahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, wide, miles outside off and left alone
- 18.2•Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, no run, flat back of a length just outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and mistimes it to deep extra-cover. He wants the strike, so doesn't run
- A chat between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shahidullah Kamal.
- 18.11Shahidullah Kamal to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, flat good length on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga goes on the back foot and pulls to deep mid-wicket. Gives the strike back to Sikandar Raza
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbazc Sikandar Raza b Brad Evans | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Ibrahim Zadranb Kundai Matigimu | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11.1 |
| Mohammad Akramc Vincent Masekesa b Brad Evans | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Sediqullah Atalc Tadiwanashe Marumani b Vincent Masekesa | 17 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 81.0 |
| Shahidullah Kamalc Tadiwanashe Marumani b Kundai Matigimu | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Azmatullah Omarzaic Brad Evans b Sikandar Raza | 116 | 50 | 5 | 12 | 232.0 |
| Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzaic Tafadzwa Tsiga b Ernest Masuku | 52 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 192.6 |
| Rashid Khan*not out | 25 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 416.7 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman*not out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 |
Extras8 (b 0, lb 1, w 7, nb 0)
Total221/7 (20.0 ov, RR 11.05)
Did not bat: Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai
Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 0.2 ov), 1-2 (Mohammad Akram, 0.4 ov), 5-3 (Ibrahim Zadran, 3.1 ov), 5-4 (Shahidullah Kamal, 3.2 ov), 38-5 (Sediqullah Atal, 8.1 ov), 180-6 (Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, 18.0 ov), 195-7 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 18.5 ov)
| Bowler · ZIM | O | M | R | W | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Evans | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.00 |
| Ernest Masuku | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Kundai Matigimu | 4 | 1 | 48 | 2 | 12.00 |
| Vincent Masekesa | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 13.25 |
| Ryan Burl | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 |
Afghanistan- 1Rahmanullah Gurbaz(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 2Ibrahim Zadran(c)Batter
- 3Sediqullah AtalBatter
- 4Mohammad AkramBatter
- 5Shahidullah KamalAll-rounder
- 6Azmatullah OmarzaiAll-rounder
- 7Ijaz Ahmad AhmadzaiAll-rounder
- 8Rashid KhanAll-rounder
- 9Fareed Ahmad MalikBowler
- 10Mujeeb Ur RahmanBowler
- 11Abdullah AhmadzaiBowler
Bench
Zimbabwe- 1Brian BennettAll-rounder
- 2Innocent KaiaAll-rounder
- 3Ryan BurlAll-rounder
- 4Sikandar Raza(c)All-rounder
- 5Wessly MadhevereAll-rounder
- 6Tadiwanashe Marumani(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 7Tafadzwa TsigaWicketkeeper
- 8Brad EvansAll-rounder
- 9Kundai MatigimuBowler
- 10Ernest MasukuBowler
- 11Vincent MasekesaAll-rounder
Bench
- 19.66Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Afghanistan seal the series but Sikandar Raza has landed another ball on the roof. If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd one of the night for him. Full outside off, he sinks low and swings it miles over deep backward square-leg. Lands on the roof but Afghanistan win by 19 runs
- 19.3CCenturyIjaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Sikandar Raza take a bow! His 2nd T20I 100. First against a Full Member. Met with a hug by Tafadzwa Tsiga. No extravagant celebrations understandably. Just raises the bat to the dugout. Gets there by driving the low full-toss to deep extra-cover
- 19.26Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, full and in the slot and it has gone over the roof at long-on. Sikandar Raza sinks on his back knee, lofts and he has really hit that well. Change of ball as well as that one has gone out of the ground. A souvenir for someone outside the stadium
- 18.66Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, SIX, the 100-run stand is up. It's too late though this hit. It's a good length delivery around off, Sikandar Raza sits deep in his crease, pulls over the deep square leg fence
- 17.46Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, dropped and six. Luck going with Sikandar Raza. Mohammad Akram the man. He runs to his right at sweeper cover and hard hands, the ball bounces off his hands and over the cushions. It's full and wide outside off, again Raza gets forward and slices the loft. Should've been taken
- 17.36Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, what a blow. Over sweeper cover and all the way. Full outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward and lofts, slices with an open-face and it just clears the fence
- 16.24Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, tossed up full and in the slot on off and middle, Sikandar Raza backs away outside leg and lofts beautifully, over extra-cover and beats the run and dive of Kamal at sweeper cover to his right
- 16.16Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, SIX, into the top-tier at wide long-on. The googly but fraction short as it turns into off, Sikandar Raza goes on the back foot and deep to pull it way back into the stands. Immediately Rashid Khan has a chat with someone in his team
- 15.36Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, SIX, the slower-ball is a dipping low full-toss and the changed bat works for Tafadzwa Tsiga. He gets forward and heaves it all the way over deep mid-wicket. Ibrahim has a slight stare-like expression at Abdullah Ahmadzai. Now a chat with his bowler
- 15.14Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, FOUR, good innovation. It's a juicy low full-toss on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga knew this was coming, gets low and scoops it over short fine. Starts the over well
- 14.64Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, 50-run stand is up. It's the attempted yorker but it's a juicy low full-toss outside off, Sikandar Raza deliberately opens the face of the bat and glides it well wide of short third man's left
- 14.26Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, SIX, 18th T20I 50 for Sikandar Raza. He has a chat with Tafadzwa Tsiga. It's on a length on middle, Raza backs away and slugs it well over deep mid-wicket. Connected that well. He is fighting out there
- 13.14Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, short on middle-stump, Sikandar Raza arches back and then uses the bat to ramp it over Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Well executed that
- 12.66Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, SIX, that is a meaty blow. It's a fraction short delivery on off, Tafadzwa Tsiga latches on, he goes on the back foot and pulls it high and over deep mid-wicket. Zimbabwe need more of these from him. Was the attempted googly from Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- 12.44Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, tossed up full on off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and slices across the ball, nearly all the way, just lands before the cushions at wide long-off
- 12.4OTeam milestoneMujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, wide, this time Sikandar Raza leaves the delivery down leg
- 12.2OMilestoneMujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, leg byes, 1 run, poor from Afghanistan as they miss a run-out. Dribbles off the pad as Tafadzwa Tsiga flicks and misses. Missing leg-stump, Sikandar Raza is almost near Tsiga when the latter runs, the throw from backward point misses and no-one at the stumps to collect the throw. Tsiga was miles out. Mujeeb Ur Rahman should've been at the stumps, but he was busy appealing for LBW
- 11.66Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, on the roof and out of the ground at deep backward square-leg. It's a slower-ball on a length on middle, Sikandar Raza gets forward and heaves this miles. We need another ball
- 9.6WFareed Ahmad to Madhevere, out Caught by Mohammad Akram!! Wessly Madhevere has found short third man. It's the slower-ball off-cutter and full outside off, Madhevere turns around for the reverse-sweep and doesn't keep it down. Couldn't have picked the man any better. Time for drinks as Zimbabwe are five-down, a long way behind at this stage. Madhevere c Mohammad Akram b Fareed Ahmad 4(4)
- 9.14Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, full and in the slot outside off, mid-off is in. Sikandar Raza leans back and lofts well over mid-off. Begins the over well
- 8.3WRashid Khan to Tadiwanashe Marumani, out Lbw!! 200th T20I wicket for Rashid Khan. The first man to do so. It's the flipper, quick and skids on to middle and leg, Tadiwanashe Marumani had no clue, he went on the back foot to pull, misses and the back thigh is found. Easy decision as it would've at worst clipped the top of the bails. There's no DRS here - remember. Zimbabwe in familiar trouble. Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw b Rashid Khan 2(5)
- 7.1WAbdullah Ahmadzai to Ryan Burl, out Bowled!! Ryan Burl beaten for pace and the ball hits leg-stump. It's full and shapes in big from round the wicket, Abdullah Ahmadzai is a skiddy bowler, it goes past the inside edge and the drive and hits leg-stump. Ryan Burl b Abdullah Ahmadzai 2(4)
- 5.5WAbdullah Ahmadzai to Brian Bennett, out Caught by Rashid Khan!! Brian Bennett picks out mid-on. It's another slower-ball off-cutter and full outside off, Bennett sinks on his back knee, looks to loft and it's off the thick inside half of the bat. Rashid goes back from the edge of the ring and takes the catch. Abdullah Ahmadzai has his arms raised in triumph. Brian Bennett c Rashid Khan b Abdullah Ahmadzai 22(15) [4s-1 6s-2]
- 5.26Abdullah Ahmadzai to Brian Bennett, SIX, superb from Brian Bennett. He uses the pace of Abdullah Ahmadzai and gets it all the way. He was shaping for the scoop but sees the line - it's outside off and he angles the bat and helps it over third man. All the way as the timing is great. Great use of the hands there
- 4.5OTeam fiftyMujeeb Ur Rahman to Brian Bennett, 1 run, the googly again, short again on leg-stump, Brian Bennett goes on the back foot and pulls to deep square leg
- 4.36Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, SIX, nice hit. It's a length delivery and sliding down leg, Sikandar Raza sinks low and helps it on its way. Well over deep backward square-leg and it's all the way
- 3.3WAzmatullah Omarzai to Innocent Kaia, out Caught by Shahidullah Kamal!! The short ball and change of plan works for Azmatullah Omarzai. He points at Rashid Khan. Maybe Rashid told him to bowl the short one. It's dug in as Innocent Kaia comes down the track, he pulls and it gets big on him, the top-edge goes straight up and it's an easy catch on the reverse-cup for deep backward square-leg. Kamal makes no mistake. Innocent Kaia c Shahidullah Kamal b Azmatullah Omarzai 25(13) [4s-3 6s-1]
- 3.24Azmatullah Omarzai to Innocent Kaia, FOUR, off the thick inside half but well over mid-on. Another slower-ball and it's on a good length on off, Innocent Kaia gets forward and lofts over mid-on
- 2.16Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Brian Bennett, SIX, Mujeeb Ur Rahman is welcomed with a six. It's tossed up full outside off, Bennett gets low and outside off and sweeps this way over deep backward square-leg. Didn't bother to keep it down
- 1.64Azmatullah Omarzai to Innocent Kaia, FOUR, full outside off, no swing this time and Innocent Kaia can drive through the line. He gets forward and smashes it to the right of mid-off
- 0.56Fareed Ahmad to Innocent Kaia, SIX, flicked away for six. Full and down leg, easy pickings for Innocent Kaia, he flicks it effortlessly over the deep backward square-leg fielder. The fielder was at deep square leg and he was just a spectator
- 0.44Fareed Ahmad to Innocent Kaia, FOUR, Innocent Kaia begins in style. A back of a length delivery on middle, Kaia gets forward and clears his front leg to heave well wide of mid-wicket and mid-on
- 0.24Fareed Ahmad to Brian Bennett, FOUR, Brian Bennett is away. Full outside off, width and Bennett gets forward to loft over cover. Was allowed to free the arms and Bennett didn't miss out
- The series is done and dusted and Zimbabwe's wait for a maiden T20I series win against Afghanistan continues. We still have a game to go in the series and that's on the 1st of November. Same venue, same time, same Cricbuzz the place to be to catch all the action. Do join us then. Loads of cricket on the platform, so do check it out. See you soon. Ta, ta and bye bye....
- Ibrahim 2/2: [On rotating the squad and giving opportunities ahead of the 2028 World Cup] Yeah, definitely. If you look at today’s game, we have rested two guys, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Noor Ahmad. They bowled really well in the last game, and we have given chance to Abdullah Ahmadzai and Fareed Malik. This is the opportunity that we should give to them until we’re going to go for the '28 World Cup. So every single game, every series is very important for us to win a game, to win a series. Along with that, opportunity is also important to give to the players that they feel themselves that we’re going to do something for the country.
- Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan captain 1/2: [On Afghanistan's recovery from 5/4 and the middle-order partnership] Yes, we were a bit panicked and we didn’t expect that much total we will put on the board. But the way Azmat and Ijaz showed the display, it was unbelievable. And the way Rashid finished the game, it was brilliant. I’m giving again credit to them. They have batted really well, and yeah, we put a very good total on the board. [On the team's batting depth and the need for the top order to improve] Definitely, if you look at the past, we had a very good start in the powerplay. The top order, we were a bit struggling in that area, but it’s a very positive sign for the team that if we don’t get a good start in the powerplay, at the start, then guys are there, quality is there, you know, of them to show their display and back each other. And that’s a very positive sign for Afghanistan, for us, that we can change the game from any situation. I will say, yes, as a batting unit, as a top order guys, we will think about it, how to cover that areas that we didn’t get a good start in this series in the powerplay. Yeah, I’m pretty sure we will cover that area as soon as possible.
- Raza 2/2: [On the support Zimbabwe receive from their fans] Oh, they are very loyal, absolutely, and what a joy to have the fans behind you. [On the complacency he observed in the team and the need for greater mental strength] For me, before I go too much in detail, and I will address that in the changing room, for me the toughest part to swallow was the complacency that I saw from some of the boys. Some of the boys were probably calculating that it will be 130, 140 max at the end of 20 overs. Some of the things that I saw on the ground today certainly hurt me, and I’ll address that in the changing room because, listen, it can happen. But I think that’s where you have to be mentally very strong and say, No, the game’s never over until it’s over. We still have a job in hand, and I’m going to be the guy who’s going to get the job done rather than looking at somebody that he can do it for me or he can do it for me. Before I dissect the game with batting or bowling, I think that’s something that I felt today out there in the middle, and that’s something that needs to be addressed, not to take this game for granted because it can bite back, and today is a great example. [On saving his further comments for the dressing room] I won’t be saying the way I said it to you in the changing room (smiles wryly at Farhad Fidai the interviewer).
- Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe captain 1/2: [On constructing his century while chasing 222] Yeah, when you're chasing 222, for me the biggest thing was to try and stay in control of my emotions, because the way we conducted ourselves in the first innings certainly hurt me. So when we go out to bat, for me it was try and win the game from any position. That has been our motto, and in my head I was just calculating how best can I go about my business and hopefully the other batters chip in so that we can win the game. Up until the last two overs we were backing ourselves to win the game, but yeah, I think we left ourselves too much. [On the team's efforts to represent Zimbabwe and the loyalty of its fans] Yeah, certainly. Like I said, I think it was in the last series when Australia came to us and there was a press, and the question was asked and I said that regardless of where Zimbabwe goes now, these real fans that come to the ground, they see how hard we try, they see how hard we work, they see how much effort we are putting in, and we have Zimbabwe at heart and we’re trying to do our utmost best to try and lift our country’s flag and to bring more respect to our country, and they appreciate that. As long as we’re fighting and as long as we try to push all of us together in the right direction, these fans will go nowhere. They have been very loyal and they will stay loyal as long as we keep doing the things that we’re supposed to do and they see it. So I just want to say thank you very much.
- Azmatullah Omarzai | Player of the Match: [On scoring his maiden T20I century and Afghanistan's recovery] I did my first century in T20I, and yeah, as you mentioned, it was amazing for me and for Afghanistan team. The way I just came and then we started smashing, and we were looking just... we were in pressure, and I just spoke with Ijaz: we have to go for boundaries, otherwise the pressure is coming more on us. That's why we started, and then we... [On his partnership with Ijaz Ahmadzai and maintaining the scoring momentum] Yeah, I enjoy a lot, and I just... speaking with Ijaz, the way you played in last game and you smashed from first ball, don't take any pressure, just play your game and wait for your ball. When he came and then he start boundaries, then it gave me a lot of confidence, and then I was trying to keep that momentum, don't let them put pressure on us. That's why I was trying to hit boundary. If he hitting one, I try to hit one again. [On the importance of breaking Zimbabwe's momentum with that Kaia wicket] We need that wicket early because they were hitting well and they were scoring. I was telling to Rashid, I'm just going to take wicket, and he said, Okay, just try. And I tried to bowl for wicket, and then Alhamdulillah I took that wicket.
- Rashid Khan took his 200th T20I wicket tonight - the first man to do so. Watch how he got there.
- STAT: 8th successive T20I series that Afghanistan have won against Zimbabwe, who are yet to win one.
- 22:05 Local Time, 18:05 GMT, 23:35 IST: Valiant effort by Sikandar Raza but he can't prevent his side from losing. Rashid Khan comes and embraces him in a warm hug. They are good friends and were seen having a long chat before the match today. Zimbabwe will only be wondering how they allowed Afghanistan to post 221 from 5/4. That's where the game was lost. A new opening combo came out today as Bennett and Kaia started well. Then Raza came at 3 and was there till the end. But 221 proved to be 19 too many. Had someone helped Raza out a bit more with the bat, Zimbabwe might well have pulled this off. Ryan Burl falling cheaply hurt Zimbabwe for the left-hander could've scored in quick time. Raza though kept fighting till the end and deservedly reached his 2nd T20I ton. Tafadzwa Tsiga gave him good company and he looked impressive with the bat on debut. Rashid and the skiddy Abdullah shone for the hosts. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....
- End of over 20 · 16 runs (1 wd 6 1 1 0 6)ZIM 202/5Sikandar Raza 106(56) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 31(23) · Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai 1-0-16-0
- 19.66Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, Afghanistan seal the series but Sikandar Raza has landed another ball on the roof. If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd one of the night for him. Full outside off, he sinks low and swings it miles over deep backward square-leg. Lands on the roof but Afghanistan win by 19 runs
- 19.5•Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, no run, low full-toss outside off, Sikandar Raza looks to slog to leg and misses
- 19.41Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, very full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to long-on
- 19.31Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Sikandar Raza take a bow! His 2nd T20I 100. First against a Full Member. Met with a hug by Tafadzwa Tsiga. No extravagant celebrations understandably. Just raises the bat to the dugout. Gets there by driving the low full-toss to deep extra-cover
- A replacement ball now.
- 19.26Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, SIX, full and in the slot and it has gone over the roof at long-on. Sikandar Raza sinks on his back knee, lofts and he has really hit that well. Change of ball as well as that one has gone out of the ground. A souvenir for someone outside the stadium
- 19.2wdIjaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, wide, and he bowls a wide miles outside off. Almost didn't land on the cutstrip
- 19.11Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, very full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to sweeper cover. That should be the game provided Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai doesn't bowl any extras
- Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
- End of over 19 · 10 runs (1 0 wd 0 1 1 6)ZIM 186/5Sikandar Raza 93(52) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 29(21) · Shahidullah Kamal 1-0-10-0
- 18.66Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, SIX, the 100-run stand is up. It's too late though this hit. It's a good length delivery around off, Sikandar Raza sits deep in his crease, pulls over the deep square leg fence
- 18.51Shahidullah Kamal to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, flat good length and into the pitch outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to force it wide of long-off
- 18.41Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, length delivery outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and miscues it to deep extra-cover on the bounce. This time he takes the run
- 18.3•Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, no run, the ump shakes his head as Sikandar Raza isn't happy. It's a flat good length delivery and just inside the tramline. A fair call from the ump, Raza left it outside off
- 18.3wdShahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, wide, miles outside off and left alone
- 18.2•Shahidullah Kamal to Sikandar Raza, no run, flat back of a length just outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and mistimes it to deep extra-cover. He wants the strike, so doesn't run
- A chat between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shahidullah Kamal.
- 18.11Shahidullah Kamal to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, flat good length on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga goes on the back foot and pulls to deep mid-wicket. Gives the strike back to Sikandar Raza
- Shahidullah Kamal, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack
- Another conference in the Afghanistan camp. Again Rashid making his points to Ibrahim.
- End of over 18 · 17 runs (2 0 6 6 1 wd 1)ZIM 176/5Tafadzwa Tsiga 27(19) · Sikandar Raza 86(48) · Fareed Ahmad Malik 4-0-51-1
- 17.61Fareed Ahmad to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga opens the face of the bat and glides it on the bounce to deep point. Ijaz keeps it to one
- 17.6wdFareed Ahmad to Tafadzwa Tsiga, wide, Fareed Ahmad Malik has the double-teapot pose. It's a high full-toss well outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga looks to reverse-lap and misses. Called a wide. Malik certainly not happy with the call
- 17.51Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, fine yorker outside off, Sikandar Raza opens the face of the bat and guides it to the backward point area
- 17.46Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, dropped and six. Luck going with Sikandar Raza. Mohammad Akram the man. He runs to his right at sweeper cover and hard hands, the ball bounces off his hands and over the cushions. It's full and wide outside off, again Raza gets forward and slices the loft. Should've been taken
- Ibrahim has a chat with Fareed Ahmad Malik and makes some adjustments to his field.
- 17.36Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, SIX, what a blow. Over sweeper cover and all the way. Full outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward and lofts, slices with an open-face and it just clears the fence
- 17.2•Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, no run, low full-toss outside off, Sikandar Raza misses out, drives and misses. Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to his left and stops it. Saves runs. Probably four of them. Raza was trying to angle it between short third man and backward point
- 17.12Fareed Ahmad to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs, full outside off from round the wicket, Sikandar Raza heaves wide of long-on. Rashid runs and dives to his right to keep it to two
- Fareed Ahmad Malik [3.0-0-34-1] is back into the attack
- A break in play as Mujeeb, Rashid Khan, Ibrahim and Rahmanullah Gurbaz get together for a chat. Rashid doing the talking.
- End of over 17 · 13 runs (6 4 1 0 1 1)ZIM 159/5Sikandar Raza 71(43) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 26(18) · Rashid Khan 4-0-29-1
- 16.61Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Rashid Khan follows Sikandar Raza with a full delivery down leg, he gets forward to drive to long-on and retains the strike with that run
- 16.51Rashid Khan to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, this is bowled from almost 26 yards. Looped up this googly outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to loft and it's just one to long-on
- 16.4•Rashid Khan to Tafadzwa Tsiga, no run, good length on off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive and Ibrahim at extra-cover moves to his right to cut it off
- 16.31Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, skiddy and full on middle, Sikandar Raza again backs away and pushes to extra-cover. Calmly takes one
- 16.24Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, tossed up full and in the slot on off and middle, Sikandar Raza backs away outside leg and lofts beautifully, over extra-cover and beats the run and dive of Kamal at sweeper cover to his right
- 16.16Rashid Khan to Sikandar Raza, SIX, into the top-tier at wide long-on. The googly but fraction short as it turns into off, Sikandar Raza goes on the back foot and deep to pull it way back into the stands. Immediately Rashid Khan has a chat with someone in his team
- Rashid Khan [3.0-0-16-1] is back into the attack
- End of over 16 · 12 runs (4 0 6 1 0 1)ZIM 146/5Sikandar Raza 59(39) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 25(16) · Abdullah Ahmadzai 4-0-34-2
- 15.61Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, slower-ball off-cutter and on a length just outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and totally miscues it. It dribbles to long-on for one
- 15.5•Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, no run, full and just outside off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and misses. Abdullah Ahmadzai has his hands on his head. Not far from off-stump. Raza was looking to go leg-side
- 15.41Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, low full-toss on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to Ibrahim at mid-off who charges and fumbles, but they are happy with one
- 15.36Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, SIX, the slower-ball is a dipping low full-toss and the changed bat works for Tafadzwa Tsiga. He gets forward and heaves it all the way over deep mid-wicket. Ibrahim has a slight stare-like expression at Abdullah Ahmadzai. Now a chat with his bowler
- 15.2•Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, no run, Tafadzwa Tsiga looks at his bat. He has missed out on a full-toss on leg-stump, gets forward to drive and mistimes it back. Looks like he has damaged the bat. Sikandar Raza tells him to get another one. Change of gloves and bat for Tsiga
- 15.14Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, FOUR, good innovation. It's a juicy low full-toss on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga knew this was coming, gets low and scoops it over short fine. Starts the over well
- Sikandar Raza is struggling. He is down on his knees and calls for the physio. We will have a break in play. Very humid out there.
- End of over 15 · 12 runs (0 6 0 1 1 4)ZIM 134/5Sikandar Raza 58(37) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 14(12) · Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-43-0
- 14.64Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, 50-run stand is up. It's the attempted yorker but it's a juicy low full-toss outside off, Sikandar Raza deliberately opens the face of the bat and glides it well wide of short third man's left
- 14.51Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, fired full and from the front of the hand on middle-stump, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward to drive to long-on
- 14.41Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, another googly, turns into off, good length and Sikandar Raza goes on the back foot to pull, thick inside edge to the vacant mid-wicket area
- 14.3•Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, no run, the googly and into the pitch outside off, keeps a shade low, Sikandar Raza tries to pull and misses
- 14.26Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, SIX, 18th T20I 50 for Sikandar Raza. He has a chat with Tafadzwa Tsiga. It's on a length on middle, Raza backs away and slugs it well over deep mid-wicket. Connected that well. He is fighting out there
- 14.1•Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, no run, Sikandar Raza backs away and he is followed by a full delivery outside leg, pushed to the right of extra-cover
- End of over 14 · 11 runs (4 1 2 1 2 1)ZIM 122/5Sikandar Raza 47(32) · Tafadzwa Tsiga 13(11) · Abdullah Ahmadzai 3-0-22-2
- 13.61Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, slower-ball off-cutter and full outside off, Sikandar Raza leans back and drives to sweeper cover
- Sikandar Raza on his haunches, breathing heavily.
- 13.52Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs, superb inswinging yorker on middle-stump, Sikandar Raza digs it out through the vacant mid-wicket area. Comes back for the 2nd before deep mid-wicket comes in
- 13.41Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run, full and wide outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga drives hard square of the wicket on the off-side but picks out the sweeper
- A chat between Abdullah Ahmadzai, Rashid and Ibrahim.
- 13.32Abdullah Ahmadzai to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 2 runs, fullish outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets forward and shows the full face of the bat to loft over extra-cover. Comes back for the 2nd
- 13.21Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, slower-ball off-cutter and on a yorker length outside off, Sikandar Raza opens the face of the bat and guides it down to third man
- 13.14Abdullah Ahmadzai to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, short on middle-stump, Sikandar Raza arches back and then uses the bat to ramp it over Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Well executed that
- Abdullah Ahmadzai [2.0-0-11-2] is back into the attack
- End of over 13 · 14 runs (0 1lb 0 wd wd 4 1 6)ZIM 111/5Tafadzwa Tsiga 10(9) · Sikandar Raza 39(28) · Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-0-31-0
- 12.66Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, SIX, that is a meaty blow. It's a fraction short delivery on off, Tafadzwa Tsiga latches on, he goes on the back foot and pulls it high and over deep mid-wicket. Zimbabwe need more of these from him. Was the attempted googly from Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- 12.51Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, flat good length on off, Sikandar Raza goes on the back foot and punches to long-on
- 12.44Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, FOUR, tossed up full on off, Sikandar Raza gets forward to loft and slices across the ball, nearly all the way, just lands before the cushions at wide long-off
- 12.4wdMujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, wide, this time Sikandar Raza leaves the delivery down leg
- 12.4wdMujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, wide, the googly and down leg, Sikandar Raza heaves and misses
- 12.3•Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sikandar Raza, no run, on a good length outside off, Sikandar Raza leaning back tries to pull it too hard, totally mistimes it back to Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- 12.21lbMujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, leg byes, 1 run, poor from Afghanistan as they miss a run-out. Dribbles off the pad as Tafadzwa Tsiga flicks and misses. Missing leg-stump, Sikandar Raza is almost near Tsiga when the latter runs, the throw from backward point misses and no-one at the stumps to collect the throw. Tsiga was miles out. Mujeeb Ur Rahman should've been at the stumps, but he was busy appealing for LBW
- 12.1•Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tafadzwa Tsiga, no run, very full outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga jams the drive to extra-cover
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