Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 18 runs in the fourth match of UAE T20I Tri-series
Ibrahim Zadra and Sediqullah Atal hammered fifties as spinners share six wickets for Afghanistan
For Pakistan Faheem Asgram took four wickets
Afghanistan posted 169/5 and then destroyed the pursuing team with a disciplined bowling display to exact revenge for their earlier loss to Pakistan by a commanding 18-run margin in the fourth match of the UAE T20I Tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
With two wickets apiece, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad were the best bowlers.
With his first delivery, Farooqi dismissed Saim Ayub for a duck, overshadowing Allah Ghazanfar, who had started the bowling. Afghanistan's bowlers swiftly reversed the trend despite a strong start from Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha, who combined for 52/2 in six overs. Rashid Khan executed a deft run-out on Agha, and Fakhar was taken off by Muhammad Nabi.
Nabi took his second wicket when Mohammad Haris mistimed a drive to deep mid-wicket, while Noor Ahmad carried on the assault, capturing early wickets in the middle overs. Then, just missing a hat-trick, Rashid Khan made his way back to castled Shaheen Afridi. Ultimately, Pakistan found it difficult to form alliances, which let Afghanistan secure a historic victory.
Previously, Afghanistan chose to bat and bounced back from Rahmanullah Gurbaz's early dismissal of (8). Sediqullah Atal (64) and Ibrahim Zadran (65) put together a smooth century partnership that put Pakistan's bowlers on the defensive.
Both made it to their fifties, but Afghanistan's attack was stopped by Faheem's double breakthrough in the same over and Azmatullah Omarzai's dismissal (4). Rashid Khan made a late appearance with 8* off 4, but Pakistan's bowlers finished strong, keeping the total below 170.
