Pakistan secured a dominant victory over Afghanistan in the T20I tri-series final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, thanks to Mohammad Nawaz. The left-arm spinner produced his best-ever performance, grabbing a maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan triumphed by 75 runs.
Afghanistan, chasing a target of 142, collapsed for just 66 runs. The downfall began in the very first over when Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell cheaply for five to Shaheen Afridi. His early strike set the stage for Pakistan’s ruthless bowling show.
The pressure kept mounting. In the sixth over, Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 13 off 15 balls, leaving Afghanistan at 28-2. Then came Mohammad Nawaz’s magical spell. He struck twice in one over, removing Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai on consecutive deliveries, almost sealing a hat-trick.
Nawaz completed the hat-trick in style with the first ball of the seventh over. Ibrahim Zadran was trapped for nine, sharply stumped by Mohammad Haris. Nawaz struck again in the same over, dismissing Karim Janat for a duck. Afghanistan tumbled to 32-5.
The misery didn’t stop there. Abrar Ahmed removed veteran Mohammad Nabi for three off 10 balls in the 11th over, reducing Afghanistan to 46-7. Nawaz returned to cap off his dream spell, sending captain Rashid Khan back for 17. His fifth wicket left Afghanistan staggering at 55-8 in 12.2 overs.
The tail offered little resistance. Sufiyan Muqeem and AM Ghazanfar wrapped up the innings, dismissing Noor Ahmad for three and Ghazanfar for seven. Nawaz finished with remarkable figures of 5/19 in four overs. Abrar Ahmed and Muqeem picked up two wickets each, while Afridi claimed one.
Earlier, Pakistan had struggled with the bat. Opener Sahibzada Farhan departed for a duck to Fazalhaq Farooqi in the very first over. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman steadied things with a 49-run stand for the second wicket. But both soon fell to Afghan spinners.
Saim made 17 off 19 before Noor Ahmad trapped him lbw at 49-2. Fakhar followed in the next over, dismissed by Rashid Khan for 27 off 26. After the drinks break, Rashid struck again, removing Hasan Nawaz for 15. Pakistan slipped to 69-4 in 10.5 overs. Noor Ahmad then got Mohammad Haris for just two.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz rebuilt the innings with a vital 40-run stand. Their partnership pushed Pakistan past the 100-run mark. Salman Ali Agha scored 24 off 27 before Rashid Khan claimed him in the 17th over. Pakistan stood at 112-6.
Late wickets fell quickly. Nawaz contributed a valuable 25 off 21 deliveries before departing. Pakistan eventually posted 141-8, with Shaheen Afridi unbeaten on two and Sufiyan Muqeem on one.
For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan starred with 3/38 in four overs. Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi bagged two each, while AM Ghazanfar chipped in with one. Still, the night belonged to Mohammad Nawaz, whose spell turned the match into a one-sided contest.
