SHARJAH: A disciplined bowling display powered Afghanistan to an 18-run victory over Pakistan in the fourth match of the tri-series at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted 169-5 in their allotted 20 overs. They lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz early for just 8, but Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal steadied the innings with a brilliant 113-run partnership. The pair rotated strike effectively, punished loose deliveries, and kept Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure through the middle overs.
The 15th over turned out costly for Pakistan as Zadran and Atal smashed Sufiyan Muqeem for 20 runs, raising hopes of a big total. However, Pakistan clawed back in the death overs with quick wickets to restrict the scoring rate. Atal struck 64 from 45 balls (3 sixes, 3 fours), while Zadran made 65 off 45 (1 six, 8 fours).
In reply, Pakistan faltered under pressure and finished on 151-9 in 20 overs, falling 18 runs short of the target. Haris Rauf top-scored with an unbeaten 34 off just 16 deliveries, while Fakhar Zaman added 25, Salman Agha 20, and Sahibzada Farhan 18.
For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad each claimed two wickets to dismantle Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
