Afghanistan Vs UAE Highlights, T20I Tri-Series, Match 6: AFG Edge Hosts In Last-Ball Thriller To Seal 4-Run Win

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the sixth match of the UAE Tri-series between Afghanistan and UAE at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE.

Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Darwish Rasooli, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Gulbadin Naib

United Arab Emirates Squad: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem(c), Ethan DSouza, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Aryansh Sharma, Saghir Khan, Muhammad Zohaib

Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to bat first.

UAE Playing 11: Muhammad Waseem (c), Muhammad Zohaib, Asif Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra (wk), Harshit Kaushik, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Rohid, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh

Afghanistan Playing 11: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Gulbadin Naib, Abdullah Ahmadzai

A slow start as the ball shows some shape. Caution from the Afghanistan openers with Junaid Siddique taking the new ball for UAE.

After a quiet start with just 6 runs from the first two overs, Afghanistan have shifted gears by collecting 11 runs off the third over. Gurbaz with a six and a four.

At the end of the powerplay Afghanistan are off to a cautious yet solid start with 40 runs on the board and no wickets lost. They will now look to capitalise on this foundation and aim for a big total. For UAE this is not a major setback as their bowling has shown discipline in patches but they will need to create wicket taking opportunities to contain Afghanistan.

Afghanistan continue in cruise mode with steady singles and the odd boundary here and there. The big question now is when the openers will look to accelerate.

Afghanistan have pushed a little now, taking calculated risks rather than rash shots. Skipper Ibrahim Zadran hits a four and a six off Muhammad Farooq as the first innings reaches its halfway stage. The Afghan foundation looks strong.

UAE are back in the game as both Afghanistan openers depart in quick succession. Muhammad Farooq strikes first, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 40 with a fuller delivery outside off, caught neatly at long-off by Zohaib. Moments later Haider Ali produces a brilliant delivery to dismiss Ibrahim Zadran for 48, hitting the top of middle stump and leaving the batter flummoxed. Afghanistan had started to accelerate but now find themselves at 101 for 2.

Simranjeet Singh strikes as Mohammad Ishaq is out, beaten by a clever off-spin delivery that turns away just enough to hit the stumps while the batter was well outside his crease. The over yields only 3 runs, and Afghanistan are struggling to score at the end of 15 overs, now 114 for 3.

Karim Janat’s fiery knock comes to an end as he is caught by Muhammad Waseem off Haider Ali for 28 from 14 balls, including 1 four and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 200. Haider Ali breaks the well-timed partnership.

Afghanistan finish their first innings at 170 for 4, boosted by an important cameo from Gulbadin Naib who scored 20 off 14 balls. Chasing this total will be an uphill task for UAE against a quality Afghan spin attack.

UAE signaled intent right from the first ball of their chase and have continued with positive stroke play through the first three overs. Skipper Muhammad Waseem has led the charge, smashing two sixes in a single over off Fareed Ahmad. UAE are off to a flying start at 33 without loss, and Afghanistan will need to bounce back quickly with their spinners likely to take charge as the innings progresses.

At the end of the powerplay UAE have shown no signs of giving up, rather dictating the game so far with a strong opening stand. Alishan Sharafu is unbeaten on 23 off 17 balls with 2 fours and 1 six, while skipper Muhammad Waseem has raced to 30 off 19 with 2 fours and 2 sixes. UAE reach 54 without loss after 6 overs, setting a solid platform in the chase.

Noor Ahmad gets Afghanistan back in the game by removing Alishan Sharafu. UAE are 68 for 1 at the end of 8 overs, with the visitors finally breaking the opening stand.

At the halfway mark of the chase Afghanistan’s spinners have managed to slow UAE’s rapid scoring. A positive for the hosts is that skipper Muhammad Waseem is still at the crease, batting on 38 off 26, keeping their hopes alive.

Abdullah Ahmadzai gets the big wicket of Muhammad Waseem just after being hit for a six. The UAE skipper departs after a strong knock, leaving two new batters at the crease and Afghanistan back in the game at 87 for 2 in 11 overs.

Just when it looked like UAE could be contained they have shown intent once again, making it clear they will not back down. The chase now looks firmly in their control with only 67 needed from 48 balls. Rahul Chopra is on 5 off 3 with a boundary while Muhammad Zohaib has raced to 22 off 17 with 2 fours and a six, guiding UAE to 102 for 2 at the end of 12 overs.

What once looked like an achievable task and a monumental win for UAE now seems to be slipping away. As expected, Afghanistan’s spinners Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have tightened the screws, drying up the runs. The chase is still on but looking distant for UAE, who now require 51 off the last 24 balls at 120 for 4 in 16 overs.

Asif Khan has kept the chase alive with timely hits, 27 needed off the last 12 balls in Sharjah.

High drama in Sharjah as the chase goes right down to the wire. UAE now need 17 runs off the final 6 balls, with Asif Khan on strike to take them home.

Asif Khan – remember the name! A massive six followed by a cracking four has turned the game on its head. UAE now need just 7 runs off 4 balls and are on the brink of a famous victory in Sharjah.

What a finish in Sharjah! Fareed Ahmad kept his nerve in a nerve-racking final over to seal a thrilling 4-run win for Afghanistan when all results seemed possible. Asif Khan almost pulled off the impossible with a trailblazing 40, but perished on the last ball needing 5, leaving UAE just short of a famous victory.