Rashid Khan reaches 200 T20I wickets as Omarzai's 116 carries Afghanistan past Zimbabwe

Rashid Khan became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men's T20 Internationals as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in Sharjah

The landmark arrived in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in what was Rashid's 120th appearance in the format, when he dismissed Zimbabwe opener Tadiwanashe Marumani.

It was a night that had looked lost for Afghanistan long before the record was reached. Put in after Zimbabwe chose to field, they lost four wickets for five runs and were still only 38 for 5 when Azmatullah Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai came together.

The pair added 142, Omarzai made a maiden T20I hundred, and Afghanistan finished on 221 for 7. Zimbabwe replied with 202 for 5, Raza unbeaten on a hundred of his own, and Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Eleven years from Bulawayo to Sharjah

Rashid made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2015, and it was the same opponent that took him past 200 wickets. He is 28.

No other bowler is close. England's Adil Rashid is next on the list with 171 wickets from 153 matches, 33 more matches than the Afghanistan leg-spinner needed to reach 200.

Marumani's wicket was the one that moved the tally on, and it came in a chase that Zimbabwe were always just behind on.

Four down for five

Afghanistan's innings began about as badly as a T20I innings can. Four wickets went down for five runs inside the powerplay, Brad Evans among the wicket-takers.

The fifth wicket fell at 38 in the ninth over, leaving Omarzai and Ijaz to rebuild with more than half the innings still to come.

According to the ICC, no side had previously passed 200 in a men's T20I after losing its first four wickets for fewer than 20 runs.

Omarzai and Ijaz rewrite the record

Omarzai reached his fifty from 31 balls and his hundred from 44, finishing with 116 from 50 balls with 12 sixes and five fours. It was his first century in the format.

Ijaz was the calmer half of the stand, making 52 from 27 balls with five fours and three sixes before the partnership was broken.

Their 142 is the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in men's T20I cricket. The 17th over was the one that turned the innings into a total, Evans going for 27.

Rashid then closed it out with the bat as well, 25 not out from six balls including four sixes, lifting Afghanistan to what proved to be 19 runs more than enough.

Raza's hundred comes up short

Zimbabwe lost half their side with 85 on the board and the required rate climbing, and from there the chase belonged entirely to their captain.

Sikandar Raza made 106 not out from 56 balls with nine sixes and five fours, adding an unbroken 120 for the sixth wicket with Tafadzwa Tsiga, who finished 31 not out from 23.

It was the second T20I hundred of Raza's career and the second of the night, but Afghanistan had too much on the board. Zimbabwe closed on 202 for 5.

Series won with a match to play

Afghanistan's 221 for 7 is their third-highest total in T20Is, and it has given them the series with a match to spare.

The third T20I is also in Sharjah, with Afghanistan looking to complete a sweep.

Scorecard: Afghanistan 221 for 7 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 116, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai 52, Rashid Khan 25*) beat Zimbabwe 202 for 5 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 106*, Tafadzwa Tsiga 31*) by 19 runs.

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