Pakistan secured a convincing 39-run victory against Afghanistan in the first match of a tri-nation series in Sharjah.
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan set a strong target of 182 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Salman Ali Agha was the top scorer, making a swift 53 runs off just 36 balls. He was well-supported by Mohammad Nawaz, who scored a quick 21 off 11 deliveries. Openers Sahibzada Farhan (21) and Fakhar Zaman (20) also contributed to the total.
For Afghanistan, bowler Fareed Ahmad took two wickets, conceding 47 runs. Other key bowlers, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, each took one wicket.
In response, Afghanistan’s batting lineup struggled and was bowled out for 143 runs in 19.5 overs. Only opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (38) and a late explosive innings from Rashid Khan (39 off 16 balls) offered significant resistance.
Pakistan’s bowlers dominated the game. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was the standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 31 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz each took two wickets, while Sufiyan Muqeem also claimed two wickets for 25 runs.
Pakistan’s next match in the series is against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday at the same venue. The match will start at 8:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time.
Also read: Tri-nation series, Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket teams will face each other today
