Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in the second T20I in Sharjah on Thursday, October 29, in a match that produced several records. Rashid Khan became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in men’s international T20 cricket, while Sikandar Raza became its oldest centurion.

Afghanistan were in deep trouble after losing the toss and batting first. They slipped to five for four, with the opposition bowler on a hat-trick, and then to 38 for five. Azmatullah Omarzai walked in at number six with the innings in ruins.

He turned it around with 116 from 50 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes. His hundred came off 44 deliveries and was the first in this format by a Full Member batter at number six or lower, beating Mohammad Nabi’s 89 against Ireland in 2017.

Omarzai also shared a stand of 142 off 59 balls with Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai for the sixth wicket. It is the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in T20Is, passing the 139 added by Andre Russell and Sherfane Rutherford against Australia in 2024.

Ijaz hit 52 from 27 balls, with five fours and three sixes, his second successive rapid fifty. Rashid then added a cameo of 25 from six balls, including four sixes, as Afghanistan recovered to 221 for seven in their 20 overs.

Zimbabwe’s reply rested largely on Raza, who came in at number three and finished unbeaten on 106 from 56 balls, with nine sixes and five fours. Without enough support at the other end, Zimbabwe could only reach 202.

At 40 years and 188 days, Raza became the oldest player to score a T20I century. He surpassed Gibraltar’s Avinash Pai, who was 39 years and 272 days old when he reached three figures against Bulgaria in 2021.

Rashid, 28, had come into the match on 199 wickets and conceded six runs in his first over, the seventh of Zimbabwe’s innings. He struck on the third ball of the ninth, trapping Tadiwanashe Marumani lbw as he missed a full delivery aimed down the leg side.

The leg-spinner reached the landmark in his 120th match. Adil Rashid of England is second on the list with 171 wickets, while Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan is third on 161, leaving Rashid well clear at the top.