Afghanistan bounced back strongly from their opening loss to Pakistan with a convincing 38-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the third T20I of the tri-series at Sharjah on Sunday.
Afghanistan vs UAE : The win was made even more memorable as skipper Rashid Khan etched his name in history by becoming the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals with 165 dismissals, overtaking New Zealand’s Tim Southee.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan put up an imposing 188/4 in 20 overs. While Rahmanullah Gurbaz (7) departed early, Sediqullah Atal steadied the innings with a well-crafted 54 off 40 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. Ibrahim Zadran then accelerated with a blistering 63 from 40 deliveries at a strike rate of 157.50. The finishing touches came from Azmatullah Omarzai (20* off 12) and Karim Janat (23* off 10), who powered the total past 180 with late fireworks.
Chasing 189, UAE started brightly thanks to skipper Muhammad Waseem’s explosive 67 off 37 balls, featuring four boundaries and six sixes, while Rahul Chopra chipped in with an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls. However, the middle and lower order failed to keep up against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack.
Rashid Khan was the standout once again, bagging 3/21 in his four-over spell, including crucial wickets of Ethan D’Souza, Asif Khan, and Dhruv Parashar. He received solid support from Sharafuddin Ashraf (3/24), Mohammad Nabi (1 wicket), and Fazalhaq Farooqi, who struck early.
UAE eventually managed 150/8 in 20 overs, falling well short despite Waseem’s fireworks. The result gave Afghanistan their first win and points in the series, boosting confidence after the opening setback against Pakistan.
Brief Scores:
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Afghanistan: 188/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 63, Sediqullah Atal 54; Azmatullah Omarzai 20*, Karim Janat 23*)
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UAE: 150/8 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 67, Rahul Chopra 52*; Rashid Khan 3/21, Sharafuddin Ashraf 3/24)