In a rain‑shortened Sharjah thriller, Zimbabwe trailed Afghanistan by 19 runs after Sikandar Raza's blistering 106* off 56, but the hosts still fell short as Afghan bowlers pulled through the chase.
Raza's 106 came on a back‑to‑back haul of 5 fours and 9 sixes, lifting Zimbabwe from a 82‑for‑five nightmare to a 202‑for‑five finish. He joined debutant Tafadzwa Tsiga in a 120‑run sixth‑wicket stand, Tsiga contributing 31 from 23 balls. New Zealand's early collapse had Afghanistan down to 38‑for‑five, but a 142‑run partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai turned the game, propelling the hosts to 221‑for‑seven.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan etched his name in history, taking his 200th wicket in men’s T20I cricket, a milestone that buoyed Afghanistan's confidence.
Zimbabwe now face a do‑or‑die in the third T20I, needing a win to salvage the series and keep their World Cup hopes alive.