Sharjah: Afghanistan finally opened their account in the UAE tri-series with a commanding 38-run victory over the hosts, thanks to Rashid Khan’s record-breaking spell and crucial half-centuries from Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted 188 for 4, anchored by a fluent 63 from Zadran and 54 from Atal. The pair’s 84-run stand steadied the innings after the early dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, shifting momentum with a timely acceleration during the Powerplay. Late fireworks from Karim Janat, who smashed 22 runs in the penultimate over, pushed the total beyond the UAE’s reach.
In reply, UAE looked dangerous through their talismanic skipper Muhammad Waseem. His explosive 37-ball 67 kept the hosts in contention and briefly threatened to turn the chase in their favor. But once Waseem fell, Afghanistan’s bowlers regained control.
The turning point came with Rashid Khan’s entry into the attack. The leg-spinner delivered a masterclass, taking 3 for 21, including the wickets of Asif Khan, Ethan D’Souza, and Dhruv Parashar. In the process, Rashid also became the highest wicket-taker in men’s T20I history, cementing his place among the game’s greats.
Despite a late unbeaten half-century from Rahul Chopra (52*), UAE could muster only 150 for 8 in their 20 overs. The Afghan bowlers kept the pressure on, with Rashid supported by tidy spells from Rohid and Omarzai.
The result lifted Afghanistan off the bottom of the table and restored belief in their campaign. More importantly, it showcased the balance of their lineup, a top order capable of setting imposing targets, and a bowling attack still spearheaded by the ever-reliable Rashid Khan.
Scorecard
Afghanistan 188/4 (Zadran 63, Atal 54, Janat 22*)
UAE 150/8 (Waseem 67, Chopra 52*; Rashid 3/21)
Afghanistan won by 38 runs