Afghanistan sealed their three-match T20 international series against Zimbabwe with a game to spare, winning the second match by 19 runs in Sharjah on Thursday, 29 October.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl, and the decision looked inspired when Afghanistan collapsed to 38 for 5. Azmatullah Omarzai then led a remarkable recovery, scoring 116 off 50 balls, including 12 sixes, and reaching his maiden T20 international hundred off 44 balls.

A record sixth-wicket stand

Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai added 142 runs, the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in T20 internationals, according to ESPNcricinfo. Ijaz scored 52 off 27 balls as Afghanistan, still on 45 for 5 at halfway, hammered 176 runs from their last ten overs to finish on 221 for 7, their third-highest T20 international total.

Raza's century falls short

Zimbabwe's chase was led by captain Sikandar Raza, who finished unbeaten on 106 off 56 balls, with nine sixes. Tafadzwa Tsiga supported him with 31 not out from 23 balls, and the pair added an unbroken 120 for the sixth wicket. Zimbabwe still finished on 202 for 5, nineteen runs short.

The win gives Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 series lead, after their 37-run victory in the opening match on 27 October. The same match also saw Rashid Khan reach 200 men's T20 international wickets, a milestone already covered separately on DailyByte.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo and CricFacts.