Match Details

AFG vs UAE 3rd T20, AFG vs UAE 2023-24

AFG

128-618.3

Afghanistan won by 4 wickets 🏆

UAE

20.0126-9

Match info

Live

Scorecard

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	49	47
10 Over	78	61
15 Over	101	90

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	42	38
10 Over	63	60
15 Over	89	86
20 Over	116	126

Commentary

So that marks the end of our coverage from the decider T20 game of the series between Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates. Both the sides gave a tough fight but Afghanistan did better and clinched the series victory by 2-1 margin.

For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on the behalf of my co-commentator Sourya Chowdhury and our scorer/analyst Yogesh Kumar. Stay safe, good night!

Ibrahim Zadran is collecting the trophy and gives the trophy to the youngest member of the side. The Afghanistan cricketers are celebrating with the trophy and are now engaged in a photo session.

Ibrahim Zadran(Afghanistan Captain)- "It's a nice feeling to win the series. They gave us a tough time but fortunately we got the victory.

I was talking to our bowlers that we should look to stop them below 130 still they got 14 or 15 runs more from a comfortable position. But I give the credit to the bowlers, they have done an excellent job.

In the last game, I didn't use the bowlers in the right areas. Naveen is a senior guy in the bowling line up and he knows what to do in which situation and he did that.

We have a few talented guys in the line up who are yet to get the opportunity and I am sure that they will cash in when they get the opportunity.

I am thankful to the crowd for supporting us during the series. I want to tell them something.(He shares a message for the crowd in Afghan language)"

Muhammad Waseem(UAE captain): “I am smiling because boys fought really well. Total was low, we were 10-15 runs short. But we bowled beautifully so am proud.

Yes, Dhruv is a great talent and I only told him and the other guys to not bowl full. That missed run out was a mistake by Junaid but he bowled superbly. We also gave away 10-15 runs in the field, we lost the game there.

This was a great series for the boys. We learnt so much from the Afghans. Tanish Suri is a great talent and has a good future.”

Naveen-ul-Haq(Player of the Match)- "Yes, it was a crucial game and it was a decider. We needed to do something as a team to win the series.

I needed to do something because the second game was not in our side. It was a good feeling getting two wickets right at the start and getting wicket even after changing the ends. Our guys are very much competitive. Also there are senior cricketers in our side and they gives us advices when we need.

We have prepared well for the series against India and we hope to do something well in the next series too.

The UAE boys have done well so far. I have seen them to perform well in the T20I against New Zealand and we played against them. I think the guys like Muhammad Jawadullah are going to be the key players for them in the future."

Player of the Match- Naveen-Ul-Haq

Time for the post match presentations

22:49 IST and 21:19 Local Time | Sourya: Afghanistan have prevailed in this thrilling three-match series 2-1 with a hard-earned win today here at Sharjah. They won tonight’s series decider by four wickets with 9 balls to spare, finishing on 128/6 in reply to UAE’s 126/9.

On a pitch that had both variable bounce as well as considerable turn, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (20 off 14) began with intent hitting some fine sixes, before perishing early. But his opening partner Hazratullah Zazai (36 off 32) kept on going, using his long reach and great backfoot play to clear the fence at will and seemingly taking the visitors to safety, before he departed trying to hit one big shot too many.
UAE kept on chipping away at the wickets, keeping things interesting, before Najibullah Zadran (28 off 13) strode out at No. 6 and began timing the ball with elan from the get go. His two fours and two sixes wrapped things up early as he finished off the series with a towering cover-driven maximum. Junaid Siddiqui (2/32), was the most successful UAE bowler, but was also hit around a bit and in the end Zadran finished off the game in style in his final over. All the UAE bowlers picked up a wicket, with pacer Aayan Afzal Khan (1/26), being the most economical.

Earlier, after choosing to bat first, UAE stuttered to 126/9 in their 20 overs on a difficult pitch. The Afghans were on fire with the ball, especially Naveen-ul-Haq (4/20), who was on a hat-trick and picked up his best figures in a T20I. After he breathed fire, it was the turn of the spinners, who used the helpful conditions to great effect as leggie Qais Ahmad (3/24) turned it square and got the prized wicket of Mohammad Waseem. Azmatullah Omarzai also got two scalps.

The home side showed some inexperience in going for big shots too early. Skipper Waseem got to 27 before perishing while going for a big hit. At one time they were reeling at 75/7, but some late runs from Ali Nasseer, Akif Raja and Muhammad Jawadullah got them to a total of some substance.

18.3 J Siddique to N Zadran

6 That's the series victory for the mighty Afghanistan!!!! The experienced Najibullah Zadran has done it for his team. Siddique with a full length delivery outside of the off stump from round the wicket. Zadran moves close to the line of the ball and lofts the ball over the deep extra cover fence for a maximum to secure the series victory for his team. Afghanistan wins the series by 2-1 margin!

Big hit that in the context of the game. Just five of 10 required now.

18.2 J Siddique to N Zadran

6 SIXX!!!! Siddique with a good length ball at the fourth stump line. Zadran moves to the leg side of the ball for room and lofts the delivery over the long off boundary. He has middled it perfectly and the ball goes to the gallery for a maximum. 5 needed from the remaining 10 balls.

18.1 J Siddique to N Zadran

2 Two runs to start the over. Siddique from round the wicket bowls a fullish ball outside off. Zadran uppishly plays it to Parashar at cover point who overthrows the ball to allow the second run.

13 required from the final two overs. Naseer finishes with 24 for 1 after his four overs. Junaid Siddique to bowl the penultimate over.

OVER 18

Afghanistan

114/6

Sharafuddin Ashraf

0(2)

Najibullah Zadran

14(10)

Ali Naseer

1-24(4.0)

17.6 A Naseer to S Ashraf

0 Full length delivery outside off. Ashraf goes for the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

17.5 A Naseer to N Zadran

1 Good length ball angling at the off stump. Zadran guides it to the right of the point fielder and collects a single.