Afghanistan vs UAE produced thrilling cricket at Sharjah on Monday night, where Afghanistan sealed a 38-run win in the Tri-Series. The clash was marked by disciplined spin bowling and reliable batting from the Afghan top order.
Afghanistan batted first and posted 188 for 4. Ibrahim Zadran struck a fluent 63 from 40 balls. His partner Sediqullah Atal added 54 from 40, and the duo stitched a steady stand that anchored the innings. Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat then provided quick runs at the death to push the total close to 190.
Chasing 189, UAE could only reach 150 for 8 in 20 overs. Opener Muhammad Waseem gave his team hope with a fiery 67 from 37 balls. His knock included crisp boundaries but his dismissal, followed by Asif Khan’s exit, broke the momentum. Rahul Chopra later fought back with 52 off 35 balls, smashing three fours and three sixes. Yet, he found little support from the other end.
Afghanistan vs UAE also saw records tumble. Junaid Siddique and Rahul Chopra added 28 runs for the ninth wicket, setting a new T20I record for the UAE lower order. However, their stand was too late to alter the result.
Afghan spinners dominated the night. Sharafuddin Ashraf claimed 3 for 24 and walked away with the Player of the Match award. Captain Rashid Khan, who also bagged three wickets, achieved a personal milestone. He overtook Tim Southee of New Zealand to become the highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals with 165 scalps.
After the match, Rashid praised the bowling unit for keeping calm under pressure and credited the batsmen for their maturity. UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem admitted his side lost control in the final overs with both bat and ball.
Afghanistan vs UAE now shifts focus as the Afghans prepare for their next Tri-Series battle against Pakistan on Tuesday.