Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 37 runs in the first T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 27 October 2026, defending 177 by bowling Zimbabwe out for 140 in 19.1 overs. Rashid Khan was Player of the Match after hitting 30 off 10 balls and taking 2/20 in his four overs.
How It Unfolded
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field first. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai set the tone for Afghanistan with 52 off 22 balls, striking four fours and four sixes. Shahidullah added 46 off 42 balls with three sixes, and Rashid Khan cleared the rope four times in his 30 off 10 balls late in the innings. Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 18 off 21 balls, while Azmatullah Omarzai (7 off 8) and Noor Ahmad (6 off 4) chipped in lower down the order.
Newman Nyamhuri was Zimbabwe's best bowler with 4/31 from 3.5 overs. Brad Evans took 2/34, Ernest Masuku 2/41 and Sikandar Raza 1/33 as Afghanistan finished on 177.
Zimbabwe's chase of 178 never found momentum. Ryan Burl top-scored with 32 off 24 balls, and Innocent Kaia made 24 off 26. Sikandar Raza (17 off 13) and Wessly Madhevere (17 off 8) offered brief resistance, while Brian Bennett managed 13 off 18 balls and Ben Curran 7 off 8. Zimbabwe could not find the boundaries Afghanistan had: Burl hit two sixes but no fours in his innings.
Fazalhaq Farooqi led the Afghanistan attack with 3/13 from 3.1 overs and finished the match. Rashid Khan took 2/20, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/27 and Azmatullah Omarzai 2/39. All four Afghanistan bowlers who were used took at least two wickets.
What's Next
Afghanistan lead the series 1-0 with three matches to play. Even after the win, the CricMind Oracle gives Afghanistan a 50% chance of taking the series, based on its calls for each remaining match. Follow every game on the Zimbabwe tour of United Arab Emirates 2026/27 hub, and see the full Oracle call for this match.
Source: Scorecard and the Oracle call.