Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Azmatullah Omarzai’s incisive spell of 4-15 and an unbeaten cameo of 40 off 21 balls powered Afghanistan defeat UAE by five wickets in the T20 World in the National Capital on February 16. On a pitch which had a bit of moisture, Omarzai varied his line and length cleverly to dismantle the lower half of the UAE’s batting card, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman chipped in with two wickets and Rashid Khan bowled a tidy spell to keep the UAE to 160/9.
After early setbacks, UAE’s innings was steadied by a fluent third‑wicket stand of 84 runs between Alishan Sharafu (40) and Sohaib Khan (68). The duo countered spin with measured aggression and gave the innings a sense of momentum.
Sohaib’s 68, his second successive fifty at this venue, came off 47 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. His effort ensured that the UAE touched 160 despite four wickets falling in the last five overs. In reply, opener Ibrahim Zadran hit a composed 53 off 41 balls, while Omarzai’s cameo at the end ensured the chase was completed with four balls to spare, even as UAE’s bowlers fought hard to keep the contest alive. The result also means Afghanistan have kept their slim hopes of reaching the Super Eights alive. Zadran steadied the innings through a fluent knock laced with five fours and a six, but his dismissal reopened the door for UAE. It was left to Omarzai to finish the job and he did it by hitting two fours and three sixes to seal Afghanistan’s first points of the tournament.
