In a Group D game in New Delhi, UAE started well with the ball in their defence of 160 runs. UAE could have gotten more but had to settle for 160/9 in 20 overs. But it was still a competitive score on the board. But the UAE bowlers needed early wickets and they did get it by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib in the powerplay. The game hangs in the balance as Afghanistan are in need of a partnership.
UAE strikes twice to peg Afghanistan back inside the powerplay.Â
Chasing 161 for the win, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came out to bat for Afghanistan while Junaid Siddique had ball in hand for UAE. Siddique struck a major blow to the chase as he removed Gurbaz for a silver duck. Junaid bowled a hard length and around the off-stump. Gurbaz charged down the track and looked to smash it over covers but lost his control. He got it sliced off the outer half of the bat to deep backward point where Sohaib Khan ran forward a bit and snaffled the catch comfortably.
Gulbadin Naib came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Haider Ali came onto bowl from the other end and he bowled a quiet over. Siddique continued as Ibrahim broke the shackles by lofting the ball over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Haider Ali continued as Ibrahim took him on by first using his feet and launching over mid-on for a boundary and then crunched it through covers for another boundary.
Ibrahim went big again as he took on Haider and swept it over deep backward square leg for the maximum and then used the depth of the crease to cut it past diving backward point fielder for a boundary. Muhammad Jawadullah came into the attack next. Naib took him on and pumped the ball by getting underneath it and pumping over long-on for the maximum. Naib managed to squeeze it away by drilling through covers for a boundary.
Muhammad Arfan came into the attack next to bowl the last over of powerplay. Arfan struck again as he removed Naib for 13 off 12 balls with one four and one six to his name. Arfan bowled a back of a length delivery outside the off-stump. Naib saw the width and tried to pounce on it. However, he crouched and ended up slashing straight to backward point. He failed to control the shot and paid the price. Harshit did not move an inch and he pouched the ball around his chest. Drinks was taken at this stage as well.
Sediqullah Atal came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. At the end of 6 overs, Afghanistan were 41/2 with the powerplay overs done and dusted with Ibrahim batting on 26* off 19 balls alongside Atal batting on 1* off 3 balls.
Ibrahim Zadran drives Afghanistan forward before Sediqullah Atal falls at the end of the 10th over.Â
Simranjeet Singh Kang came into the attack post the powerplay. Kang bowled a tight over. Arfan continued as Atal got across and whipped it away past deep backward square leg for a boundary. The 50 came up for Afghanistan in 7.3 overs. Ibrahim crunched it away and stood tall and punched it down to the right of sweeper cover for a boundary. Kang continued as Atal took him on and pumped the ball away over long-on for the maximum.
Jawadullah returned to the attack to bowl the 10th over and he got rid of Atal for 16 off 14 balls with one four and one six to his name. Jawadullah bowled much fuller and around the off-stump sliding in. Atal got surprised and tried to jam it down but got a bit late to do it. The ball goes onto beat the outside edge of the bat and crashed onto the off-stump. Darwish Rasooli came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace.
Afghanistan were 72/3 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the chase with Rasooli unbeaten on 2 off 1 ball and Ibrahim unbeaten on 40 off 31 balls. They now need 89 runs off the last 60 balls with 7 wickets in hand.
What Lies Ahead.Â
This match and chase is in the balance with UAE getting early wickets and Afghanistan getting cautious start. Afghanistan needs a partnership and have wickets in hand for the end overs and keep the required rate under check. UAE needs to plug away and take wickets to make it difficult for the Afghans. Which way is this game going to go? Only time will tell.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: Azmatullah Omarzai’s 4/15 Restricts UAE To 160/9.