The first two ODIs between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in Sharjah made for interesting viewing. In the first match, Afghanistan made 333-5 and bowled out Zimbabwe for 179 to win by 154 runs.

In the second match of the five-game series on Sunday, it was the Zimbabweans who posted 333-5 in their 50 overs and then bowled out the Afghans for 179 to claim victory by 154 runs.

Brendan Taylor scored a majestic 125 as Zimbabwe leveled the five-match series.

Wicketkeeper Taylor led the Africans to 333-5 with his ninth ODI hundred, before Graeme Cremer took 4-41 with his leg-spin as Afghanistan slumped to 89-7 on their way to 179 all out.

Both teams are warming up for the 2019 World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe next month.

Wicketkeeper Taylor put on 135 for the fourth wicket with Sikandar Raza before being bowled by Afghan star Rashid Khan.

The 19-year-old leg-spinner returned figures of 2-36 from his 10 overs, but the Afghanistan seamers bore the brunt of Taylor and Raza’s hitting, with Dawlat Zadran and Gulbadin Naib conceding 181 runs from 17 overs between them.

All-rounder Raza’s 92 came from 74 balls with 13 boundaries including four sixes.

The Afghanistan chase never got going, with the dangerous Mohammad Shahzad dismissed for just 15 as they slipped to 36-5.

The in-form Mohammad Nabi added 53 with first-match centurion Rahmat Shah, but Zimbabwe captain Cremer took two wickets in two balls in his first over.

Dawlat Zadran put on 64 for the final wicket with 16-year-old Mujeeb Ur Rahman, hitting six towering maximums, but Zimbabwe wrapped up victory with ease.

The two sides play three more ODIs in the UAE before meeting again in Group B of World Cup qualifying on March 6.