Pakistan posted a 142-run target for Afghanistan after spinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad restricted them from hammering a big total in the final match of the T20I tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, Pakistan suffered an early setback as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck after facing just three deliveries, courtesy of Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Despite struggling to rotate the strike against Afghanistan’s spin attack, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman stitched together a 49-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, Pakistan’s momentum was halted when Saim fell for 17 off 19 balls, with just two boundaries, to spinner Noor Ahmad at 49-2 in 7.5 overs.
In the very next over, Rashid Khan struck again, removing Fakhar Zaman for 27 off 26 balls, which included two fours and a six.
After the drinks break, Rashid claimed his second wicket by dismissing Hasan Nawaz, who had scored 15 off eight balls with a four and a six, leaving Pakistan at 69-4 in 10.5 overs.
Mohammad Haris failed to deliver once more, falling for just two runs off three balls to Noor Ahmad as Pakistan continued to struggle, losing half their side in the middle phase of the innings.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz then added crucial runs, taking the team past the 100-run mark in 16.1 overs.
After a 40-run partnership, Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 24 off 27 balls, including two sixes, falling to Rashid Khan’s third wicket as Pakistan slipped to 112-6 in 16.5 overs.
In the final stages, Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar struck to remove Faheem Ashraf for 15 off eight balls, which included two fours and a six.
In the last over, Nawaz fell for 25 off 21 deliveries to Fazalhaq Farooqi, completing Pakistan’s eighth wicket. The innings ended with Shaheen Afridi unbeaten on two off four and Sufiyan facing a single delivery.
For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan finished with figures of 3/38 in four overs, while Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up two wickets each. AM Ghazanfar claimed one wicket.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
