SHARJAH: Stand-in captain Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s anchoring opening partnership propelled Afghanistan to a formidable total against hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the sixth match of the T20I tri-series here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan accumulated 170/4 in their allotted 20 overs despite Haider Ali’s economical bowling performance.
Afghanistan got off to a solid start to their innings as Zadran and Gurbaz dominated the UAE bowlers and put together 98 runs during their opening partnership before both perished in successive deliveries.
Gurbaz was dismissed by Muhammad Farooq on the final delivery of the 12th over, while Haider Ali cleaned up Zadran at the start of the next over.
Zadran remained the top scorer for Afghanistan with 48 off just 35 deliveries, studded with three sixes and as many fours, while Gurbaz made a 38-ball 40 with the help of three fours and a six.
Following their back-to-back dismissals, Afghanistan suffered another setback as Mohammad Ishaq was stumped off Simranjeet Singh in the 15th over after scoring a scratchy five off 10 deliveries.
With the scoreboard reading 114/3 in 15 overs, all-rounders Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib raised a crucial partnership, during which they added 24 runs in just 12 deliveries before the former fell victim to Haider.
Janat remained a notable contributor with a 14-ball 28, featuring three sixes and a four.
Naib, alongside fellow all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, ensured a strong finish for Afghanistan as they registered an unbeaten 40-run partnership in just 18 deliveries.
Naib remained unbeaten with a 14-ball 20, while Omarzai made 14 not out from nine deliveries.
For UAE, Haider led the bowling charge with two wickets, while Simranjeet and Farooq chipped in with one scalp apiece.
