Sharjah: Afghanistan's star leg-spinner Rashid Khan scripted history by becoming the first bowler in men's T20 Internationals to reach the 200-wicket milestone. He achieved the feat during the second T20I against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

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The historic milestone

Rashid reached the 200-wicket mark after trapping Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani for two runs while defending a massive target of 222. The dismissal cemented his place as the pioneering wicket-taker in the shortest format of international cricket.

Match highlights: Omarzai powers Afghanistan to 221/7

Earlier in the game, Azmatullah Omarzai produced a sensational counter-attacking knock to rescue Afghanistan from a disastrous start. Electing to bat, Afghanistan slumped to 38/5 inside nine overs, with top-order batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, and Sediqullah Atal (17 off 21) falling cheaply.

Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai turned the match around with a explosive 142-run partnership off just 59 balls for the sixth wicket:

  • Azmatullah Omarzai: 116 off 50 balls (5 fours, 12 sixes, strike rate: 232.00)

  • Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai: 52 off 27 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes)

Following Ijaz's dismissal at 180, Omarzai carried on before departing in the 19th over. Skipper Rashid Khan then provided the ideal finish, blasting an unbeaten 25 off just 6 balls—featuring four sixes—to propel Afghanistan to 221/7. Zimbabwe’s valiant fightback ended at 202/5, with Afghanistan winning the match by 19 runs. (ANI)