Azmatullah Omarzai struck a magnificent 116 off 50 balls to power Afghanistan to a 19-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I in Sharjah on Thursday, October 29.
At 5-4, Afghanistan were in a precarious position when Omarzai walked out in the fourth over. He went on to pull off a historic rescue act, lifting his side to 221-7 and becoming the first player from a full-member side to score a century from number six or below.
The 26-year-old all-rounder completed his fifty off 31 balls while rebuilding the innings, then changed gears rapidly, racing to his century off just 44 balls. He received able support at the other end from Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, who made 52 off 27 from number seven. The pair together added 142 runs for the sixth wicket, the highest T20I partnership for the sixth wicket or lower.
Omarzai smashed 12 sixes and five fours in what was his maiden century in the format. In the process, Afghanistan also broke the record for the most runs scored in a men’s T20I after the fall of the fourth wicket. The previous record was held by India, who made 212-4 from 22-4 against Afghanistan in 2024.
A record-breaking innings
Overall, Omarzai recorded the third-highest individual score in T20Is from number six or lower. He trails Belgium’s Shaheryar Butt (125* against the Czech Republic in 2020) and Slovenia’s Izaz Ali (118 against Serbia in 2025). No player from a full-member side had ever scored a century from number six or below before him, with Sam Billings’ 87 against West Indies in 2019 the previous best. Mohammad Nabi scored a 30-ball 89 from number seven against Ireland in March 2017, but that came before Afghanistan gained full-member status later that year, in June.
Despite his knock, the victory was far from straightforward for Afghanistan. Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza scored a century of his own, blasting an unbeaten 106 from 56 deliveries. Omarzai also made an impact with the ball, taking 1 for 17 in his two overs. With this win, Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with the final game scheduled for November 1.