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Azmatullah Omarzai scripts history after walking in at 5/4, smashes T20I world record

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Entering with his side reeling at 5/4, Azmatullah Omarzai orchestrated an aggressive turnaround with a 50-ball 116 featuring 12 sixes. He combined with Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai for a pivotal 142-run partnership, while captain Rashid Khan added a late cameo to push the team to 221/7. Zimbabwe fell short in their chase despite Sikandar Raza's fighting hundred, allowing Afghanistan to seal the match and extend their series dominance.

Key points

  • Afghanistan extended their dominant streak to eight consecutive T20I series victories ove…: Afghanistan extended their dominant streak to eight consecutive T20I series victories over Zimbabwe.
  • Zimbabwe remains completely winless in bilateral T20I series against Afghanistan despite…: Zimbabwe remains completely winless in bilateral T20I series against Afghanistan despite a century from captain Sikandar Raza.
  • A rapid six-ball cameo yielding an unbeaten 25 runs from Rashid Khan helped elevate Afgha…: A rapid six-ball cameo yielding an unbeaten 25 runs from Rashid Khan helped elevate Afghanistan to their winning total of 221/7.

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Azmatullah Omarzai produced a stunning rescue act with the bat, smashing a record-breaking century to help Afghanistan recover from a disastrous start and post 221/7 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Walking in with Afghanistan reeling at 5/4, Omarzai launched a counter-attack that completely changed the course of the innings. He hammered 116 off just 50 balls, striking five fours and 12 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 232.

With the effort, Omarzai registered the highest individual score by a batter coming in at No. 6 or lower in T20Is involving Full Member nations. He went past the previous record of 89, scored by former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi against Ireland in 2017.

The record-breaking knock also put Omarzai ahead of Sam Billings (87 against West Indies in 2019), Cameron White (85 not out against Sri Lanka in 2010) and David Miller (85 not out against Pakistan in 2021) on the list.

Afghanistan's innings had been in complete disarray after Zimbabwe's bowlers reduced them to 5/4. Several top-order batters departed cheaply, while…

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