Welcome to the highlights of Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I - 2026 Afghanistan & Zimbabwe tour of UAE 3-match T20I series - The first Twenty20 International cricket match between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on October 27, 2026.
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| Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai celebrates his maiden fifty © Afghanistan Cricket Board |
Match Overview:
A record-equal maiden half-century by Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, All-rounder Rashid Khan's whirlwind 10-ball 30 with two wickets and Bowlers helped Afghanistan to a comfortable 37-run victory over Zimbabwe and take a 1-0 lead in the first T20I.
Match Stats:
- Afghanistan's 37-run win was their eighth largest victory by terms of runs against Zimbabwe in T20 internationals.
- 57 : Shahidullah and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai shared the second highest sixth-wicket partnership for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe in T20Is, The highest is 79-run stand between Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi at Harare in 2024.
- Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai equalled a 20-ball joint fastest fifty for Afghanistan in T20 international, jointly with Azmatullah Omarzai's 20-ball half-century against Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi in the 2025 T20 Asia Cup and Mohammad Nabi's 20-ball fifty against Sri Lanka also at Abu Dhabi in the 2025 T20 Asia Cup.
- Afghanistan's 177 was their 11th highest score against Zimbabwe in T20Is.
- Newman Nyamhuri's 4 for 31 was his best bowling performance for Zimbabwe in T20 international and the second best-bowling-figures by an Zimbabwe bowler against Afghanistan in T20Is after Chris Mpofu's 4 for 30 at Chattogram in 2019.
- Zimbabwe's 140 was their tenth lowest score in a completed innings against Afghanistan in T20Is.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
Afghanistan bowled out for 177 in 19.5 overs with top scorer by Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai hammered a 52 off 22-balls including 4-sixes & 4-fours with strike rate of 236.36.
Shahidullah cracked a 46 off 42-balls including 3-sixes & 2-fours, Rashid Khan hammered a 30 off 10-balls and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 18 off 21-balls contained two-fours.
Zimbabwe best bowler by Newman Nyamhuri claimed a career-best 4-wickets for 31-runs in 3.5-overs, Brad Evans captured two-wickets.
Debutant Ernest Masuku - who took 2-wickets on his debut T20I match, Sikandar Raza and Wellington Masakadza both picked up 1-wickets.
Zimbabwe bundled out for 140 in 19.1 overs with top scorer by Ryan Burl struck 32 off 24-balls including 2-sixes.
Innocent Kaia cracked a 24 off 26-balls including 2-fours & a six, Wesley Madhewere hit 17 off 8-balls included one-six & a four with strike rate of 212.50 and Sikandar Raza struck 17 off 13-balls contained one-six & a four.
Afghanistan best bowler by Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up 3-wickets for 13-runs in 3.1-overs, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai each took 2-wickets and one for Shahidullah.
Rashid Khan named Player of the match for his all-round performance to took 2-wickets for 20-runs in 4-overs after smashing a whirlwind 30 off 10-balls including 4-sixes & a four with strike rate of 300.
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