UAE VS AFG T20I

And that's a wrap to this thrilling game! A close contest and a cracking victory for Afghanistan. The action continues in the Tri-Series as we head into the finals, featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday, September 7, at 3 pm GMT. Join us for the pre-match build-up and don't miss the excitement! Take care, and cheers!

Ibrahim Zadran, the skipper of Afghanistan, is also the Player of the Match for his fantastic knock of 48 runs off 35 deliveries. He says that it was a good win, and because they were in the finals, they gave chances to the players who didn't get a chance to play. He says that they need to back their skills and they always try to give their best. He adds that this has been a good series so far, with just finals left, and they are also well prepared for the Asia Cup.

The captain of United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Waseem, says that it was a good game but accepts that they fell just short. He adds that they are getting better and they will learn from their mistakes and do well in the Asia Cup. He says that Haider Ali is a good bowler and they hope he can do better than this in the big event. Ends by saying that they will take the learnings, especially in batting and death bowling.

Presentations coming up...

Earlier in the game, Afghanistan posted 170 on the board after opting to bat first. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran laid a solid foundation, adding 98 runs for the first wicket. Gurbaz scored 40, while Zadran made 48. After the top-order duo's departure, Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib finished strongly, with Naib's blitz helping Afghanistan reach 170. Despite a slow start in the powerplay, Afghanistan's batters accelerated well in the middle and later overs. For UAE, Haider Ali was the pick of the bowlers with his two wickets, while Simranjeet Singh and Muhammad Farooq chipped in with a wicket each.

Afghanistan's bowlers didn't quite live up to expectations. With a big total to defend and a not-so-strong UAE batting lineup, they should have secured a more convincing win. They might be slightly disappointed with their performance. They did miss some big names in their bowling lineup, though. However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Sharafuddin Ashraf did bowl with control and plugged the scoring rate in the middle overs, also chipping in with timely wickets. Debutant Abdullah Ahmadzai took a wicket but was expensive. Fareed Ahmad bowled a nail-biting final over, as he had to defend 16 runs. After a rocky start, conceding 10 runs off the first two balls, he showed remarkable composure to restrict 7 runs off the last four balls, ultimately defending the total with aplomb.

A thrilling win for Afghanistan! UAE, on the other hand, will be thinking, 'We had it, and then we didn't! They started flying high with 54 for no loss in the powerplay, but after Alishan Sharafu and the skipper, Muhammad Waseem, fell, the run rate went down a bit, and they lost two quick wickets. Also, the required rate kept on climbing for them. They did manage to take the game deep, and Asif Khan showed some intent with his quickfire 40 towards the end, but they eventually fell a few runs short!

OUT! IN AIR... TAKEN! That's it, Afghanistan wins the encounter, but what a game of cricket we have just witnessed! Fareed Ahmad delivers a full-length delivery, around off. Asif Khan launches it up, toward the long off region, but gets more elevation on it than the required distance to sail over the ropes. Two fielders converge, one from long on and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from long off. Gurbaz calls for the catch, and keeps calm in his veins. The fielder from long on shows good presence of mind and just halts for Gurbaz to swallow the catch safely. Asif Khan admonishes himself in utter disappointment and understably so. He nearly brought the hosts on the cusp of a victory, but it was not meant to be yet again for them. Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 4 runs!

OUT! IN AIR... TAKEN! That's it, Afghanistan wins the encounter, but what a game of cricket we have just witnessed! Fareed Ahmad delivers a full-length delivery, around off. Asif Khan launches it up, toward the long off region, but gets more elevation on it than the required distance to sail over the ropes. Two fielders converge, one from long on and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from long off. Gurbaz calls for the catch, and keeps calm in his veins. The fielder from long on shows good presence of mind and just halts for Gurbaz to swallow the catch safely. Asif Khan admonishes himself in utter disappointment and understably so. He nearly brought the hosts on the cusp of a victory, but it was not meant to be yet again for them. Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 4 runs!

Fuller, wide outside off. Asif Khan yet again crouches and tries to replicate the shot that he connected in the first delivery of the over, but fails to do so in this one. The ball misses the outer edge, and now only 5 needed off 1 ball. Super over? Anyone?

Huge appeal from Afghanistan for caught behind, but no, says the umpire! Much fuller, pitching it outside off and shaping it a bit in. Asif Khan looks to drive hard at it, but the ball bumps off the inside edge and goes flat to the keeper. Mohammad Ishaq collects and underarms the throw toward the bowler as Harshit Kaushik sets off quickly for a run, but is sent back by Asif. Ahmad fails to collect the ball as he is adamantly appealing and is a bit frustrated as well. The ball is picked up by Ibrahim Zadran, who runs in from mid off. The replay shows that the ball has clearly bumped off the inside edge.

Full and outside off. Asif Khan prods and lofts it toward the left of the sweeper cover for a couple of runs. Hang on, the onfield umpires want to have a check whether there's a short run at the non-striker's end. One angle suggests touch and go, but the other side-on angle does show some part of Asif's bat getting dragged inside the crease. Hence, it is not deemed a short run and two runs will count.

SIX! EXCEPTIONAL! Asif Khan is on fire! Short of a length, angling away from the batter. Asif Khan punches it from the middle of his blade, up and over the deep cover fence for half a dozen. 7 runs off 4 deliveries!

FOUR! Streaky, but who cares! Asif Khan starts well! Pitches it up, much fuller, wide outside off, around the tramline. Asif Khan extends his arm to carve it powerfully through the off side. Only manages to get off the outside edge of the bat. The ball shoots just over and right of the short third fielder for a boundary.

Fuller, on off. Harshit Kaushik shuffles across and drives it back to the bowler. Afghanistan needs 17 in the final over!

FOUR! DROPPED AND A BOUNDARY! That's a bit casual approach from the debutant Abdullah Ahmadzai! Sharafuddin Ashraf bowls short, on middle. Harshit Kaushik hangs back and pulls it toward deep square leg for a big one. The ball loops toward Ahmadzai, who judges the catch well but spills out the sitter and the ball pops out of his hands. And to make matters worse, the ball tips into the boundary ropes on a couple of bounces. Sharafuddin Ashraf is fuming and understably so.

Tossed up, on off. Asif Khan slogs it from the inner part of his willow toward square leg for a single. The 150 is up for United Arab Emirates. They need 21 runs to win off 8 balls.