Afghanistan will face Zimbabwe in the second T20I match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 29, starting at 8:00 PM IST. Afghanistan leads the three-match series 1-0 after a 37-run victory in the first game, marking their 20th win out of 22 encounters against Zimbabwe and extending their winning streak to six matches against this opponent.
Zimbabawe, now seeking to level the series, will compete without the injured Blessing Muzarabani, who has been replaced by debutant Ernest Masuku. In the first match, the pitch showed a tendency to slow down, suggesting that spin bowlers may play a significant role in the second T20I.
Match Prediction: Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe
Notably, Afghanistan has been dominant over Zimbabwe, winning six consecutive T20Is and holding a remarkable 20-2 record in their head-to-head encounters. Despite a challenging start with Afghanistan’s top order collapsing to 66 for 5 in the first game, lower-order performances by Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan propelled the team to a defendable total. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan, effectively restricted Zimbabwe’s batting on the sluggish surface.
Reports indicate that Afghanistan is favored to win.
Pitch Report for 2nd T20I
| Total Matches | 76 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 45 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 31 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 146 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 123 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 215/6 by AFG vs ZIM |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 38/10 by HKC vs PAK |
| Highest Score Chased | 206/8 by UAE vs BAN |
| Lowest Score Defended | 119/7 by BANW vs SCOW |
Head-to-Head Record
| Stat | ZIM | AFG |
| Matches | 22 | 22 |
| Wins | 2 | 20 |
| Losses | 20 | 2 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
Team News
Afghanistan’s expected lineup includes: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Noor Ahmad.
Zimbabwe is anticipated to field: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza (c), Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, and Ernest Masuku.
How to Watch
Fans can watch the match live from Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which will host this intriguing contest.
