SHARJAH: Stand-in skipper Ibrahim Zadran and opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz laid a solid platform as Afghanistan set a challenging 170/4 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the sixth match of the T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Electing to bat first, Zadran and Gurbaz stitched together a commanding 98-run opening stand, dominating the UAE bowlers. Gurbaz struck 40 off 38 balls before falling to Muhammad Farooq on the final delivery of the 12th over, while Zadran followed immediately, bowled by Haider Ali for a brisk 48 off 35 balls, laced with three sixes and as many fours.
Afghanistan then lost Mohammad Ishaq cheaply, but Karim Janat’s explosive cameo of 28 from just 14 balls — including three sixes and a four — boosted the innings. He added a quick 24-run partnership with Gulbadin Naib before being dismissed by Haider.
Naib (20* off 14) and Azmatullah Omarzai (14* off 9) finished strongly with an unbeaten 40-run stand in the final overs, propelling Afghanistan past the 170 mark.
For UAE, Haider Ali was the standout bowler with 2/23, while Simranjeet Singh and Muhammad Farooq claimed a wicket each.
