Former Pakistan Under-19 batter Asif Khan’s blazing cameo nearly helped UAE pull off a thrilling chase during a T20I against Afghanistan on Friday (September 5).
With Afghanistan set to play the tri-series final against Pakistan on September 7, they faced hosts UAE, in a dead-rubber match on Friday. They made six changes to their lineup, resting captain Rashid Khan. Also left out were Mohammad Nabi, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, AM Ghazanfar, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
In came Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Ishaq, Fareed Ahmad, and debutant Abdullah Ahmadzai, with Ibrahim Zadran captaining the side.
They nearly suffered a major upset, with Asif proving to be a persistent threat. Chasing 171, his 28-ball 40, which included four fours and two sixes, kept the hosts' chase well and truly alive.
Asif Khan keeps UAE alive, but ends up on losing side
The game came down to Fareed defending 16 runs in the final over. Asif He first slashed a wide, full delivery past third man, before belting a shorter ball over sweeper cover to collect four and six off the first two balls.
The equation came down to seven off four for a UAE win. Fareed bounced back brilliantly: after conceding just two runs, he delivered three dot balls in a row, including the wicket of Asif off the final delivery.
Match 6, Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates
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- Ball by ball Over
For the second time in the series, Asif’s heroics were in vain – against Pakistan in the second match, he smashed a 35-ball 77 from No. 6, but it also came in a defeat – by 31 runs.
Afghanistan’s win was set up by a 98-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40) and Ibrahim (48). The spinners – Sharafuddin (1-20), Noor Ahmad (1-23), and Mujeeb (1-27) – then helped restrict the run flow, and squeeze UAE in the chase.
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