Afghanistan stunned Pakistan with a complete performance in Sharjah to secure an 18-run win in the tri-nation Twenty20 International series. The victory, built on a powerful batting partnership and disciplined bowling, was Afghanistan’s second consecutive triumph, coming just a day after they defeated the United Arab Emirates. This result left both Afghanistan and Pakistan with two wins from three games, keeping the series wide open.
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Batting first, Afghanistan recovered quickly after losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz early for just eight runs. The spotlight then shifted to Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran, who stitched together a superb 113-run partnership for the second wicket. Both players matched each other stroke for stroke, with Atal scoring 64 off 45 balls and Zadran contributing 65 off 45. Their fluent batting not only stabilized the innings but also ensured Afghanistan had the momentum heading into the death overs. Despite a mini-collapse triggered by Faheem Ashraf, who claimed four wickets for 27 runs, Afghanistan managed to post a competitive total of 169-5 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan’s chase started poorly, with Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissing both openers—Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub—early in the innings. Fakhar Zaman briefly steadied the innings with a 25-run knock, but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Salman Agha managed 20, while Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz failed to provide any meaningful resistance. The middle-order collapse left Pakistan reeling at 111-9 by the 17th over, a position from which recovery seemed nearly impossible.
Afghanistan’s spinners were instrumental in strangling Pakistan’s batting lineup. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad bowled tight spells, taking two wickets each while keeping the scoring rate under control. Their ability to extract turn and vary pace proved too much for Pakistan’s middle order. Adding to Pakistan’s woes, Mohammad Nabi chipped in with two wickets, showing his experience in handling pressure situations. Afghanistan’s sharp fielding further intensified the pressure, as singles were cut off and boundaries dried up.
Haris Rauf attempted to rescue Pakistan late in the innings with a fiery cameo, smashing 34 runs off just 16 deliveries. His innings brought some excitement to the closing stages of the match, but with wickets already lost, Pakistan’s chase fell short as they finished at 151-9. While his knock narrowed the margin of defeat, it could not erase the dominance Afghanistan had established earlier in the contest.
Speaking after the match, Pakistan’s skipper Salman acknowledged that his team had let the game slip during the middle overs. He praised the bowlers for restricting Afghanistan to what seemed like a gettable score but admitted that poor batting execution cost them the game. He highlighted Afghanistan’s spinners as the decisive factor, noting that once Pakistan lost wickets in clusters, the chase became unmanageable.
For Afghanistan, the result was another step forward in proving their consistency on the international stage. The balanced contributions from both batters and bowlers showed the depth in their squad and their growing confidence in high-pressure matches. The victory was not just about two points in the standings but also about the psychological edge of beating Pakistan in a crucial game.
This match reinforced important lessons for Pakistan as they head deeper into the tournament. Building partnerships, particularly in the middle overs, will be critical to avoiding collapses against strong bowling attacks. For Afghanistan, the triumph will add momentum and belief as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead. Their ability to deliver under pressure with both bat and ball has made them a serious contender in this tri-nation series.
With both sides now level on points, the upcoming matches are set to determine who can carry this momentum into the final and secure the ultimate prize. Afghanistan’s sharp execution and Pakistan’s inconsistency were the defining themes of the day, ensuring fans were treated to a gripping contest.
