Sharjah: Cricket fans witnessed a heart-stopping finish on Friday night as Afghanistan defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by just four runs in a high-voltage T20I clash of the ongoing tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 170 runs. Their openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and skipper Ibrahim Zadran, gave a flying start with a 98-run partnership. Gurbaz contributed 40, while Zadran top-scored with 48 and later earned the Player of the Match award. Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib added late fireworks, ensuring Afghanistan finished strongly. For UAE, Haider Ali was the standout bowler with two wickets, while Simranjeet Singh and Muhammad Farooq picked up one each.
Chasing 171, UAE began impressively with Alishan Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem powering the side to 54 without loss in the powerplay. However, the middle overs proved costly. Quick wickets slowed their momentum and increased the required run rate. Despite Asif Khan’s quickfire 40 that revived hopes, UAE fell agonizingly short, managing 166. The last over, bowled by Fareed Ahmad, was a thriller: needing 16 runs, UAE scored 10 off the first two balls but collapsed under pressure as Afghanistan held their nerve.
After the game, Afghanistan’s skipper Ibrahim Zadran praised his teammates for backing their skills and highlighted the importance of giving exposure to youngsters ahead of the Asia Cup. On the other side, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem acknowledged the narrow loss but stressed that his side is improving with every T20I outing.
With this victory, Afghanistan booked their spot in the tri-series final against Pakistan on Sunday, September 7. Cricket fans are now eagerly anticipating another high-octane T20I showdown, as Pakistan and Afghanistan prepare to battle for supremacy before turning focus to the Asia Cup.