New Delhi [India], February 16 (ANI): Afghanistan pulled off a dramatic victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to register their first win of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 in match 28 held on the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
Azmatullah Omarzai performed a match-winning knock whereas chasing after reaching spectacular bowling figures of 15/4 in Afghanistan’s third Group D fixture, which helped the Rashid Khan-led facet safe a five-wicket win over the UAE.
Chasing a difficult goal of 161 runs, Junaid Siddique removed the in-form batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the second supply of the primary over. This was the fifth occasion in T20Is that Siddique dismissed Gurbaz.
Gulbadin Naib joined Ibrahim Zadran, and the duo added 40 runs for the second wicket. Zadran focused Haider Ali and hit 4 boundaries to gather 18 runs from the fourth over.
Naib thumped Muhammad Jawadullah for a few boundaries within the subsequent over, earlier than shedding his wicket to Muhammad Arfan within the sixth over.
Sediqullah Atal changed him on the crease and added 30 runs for the third wicket with Zadran earlier than shedding his wicket to Jawadullah after making 16 off 14 balls.
Zadran accomplished his half-century however misplaced his wicket quickly after that. He made 53 runs off 41 balls, together with six fours and a six.
Darwish Rasooli added 43 runs for the fifth wicket with Azmatullah Omarzai. Rasooli made 33 off 23 balls with the assistance of 4 boundaries.
52 runs had been wanted within the final 5 overs, however Omarzai made it look straightforward, first by setting a partnership with Rasooli, then ending the match within the final couple of overs.
Omarzai remained unbeaten on 40 off 21 balls with the assistance of two fours and three sixes. He additionally hit the profitable boundary on the second supply of the final over as Afghanistan secured their first victory of the competitors.
Earlier, Afghanistan halted the UAE at 160/9 in 20 overs after inviting them to bat first. Omarzai was the very best bowler for Afghanistan as he picked up 4 wickets whereas conceding 15 runs in his 4 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman additionally took a few wickets. Captain Rashid Khan additionally took one wicket within the match and have become the first-ever cricketer to finish 700 T20 wickets.
Alishan Sharafu made 40 runs off 31 balls, and Sohaib Khan’s 68 runs off 48 balls helped the UAE set a difficult goal for the Afghans.
Afghanistan’s closing group-stage fixture is towards Canada, scheduled for Thursday at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, whereas the UAE will face South Africa in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI)
