New Delhi: Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai starred with both ball and bat to lead his team to a five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in a crucial T20 World Cup clash on Monday. Azmatullah Omarzai claimed four wickets for 15 runs and then remained unbeaten on 40, steering Afghanistan to 162 for 5 in 19.2 overs.
The win gave Afghanistan their first points in the tournament, keeping their Super Eight hopes alive in Group D. South Africa, with six points, topped the group, followed by New Zealand in second and Afghanistan in third, while UAE dropped to fourth.
Bowling Brilliance from Azmatullah Omarzai
Omarzai’s disciplined bowling dismantled the UAE batting lineup, restricting them to 160 for 9, with Sohaib Khan top-scoring with 68 off 48 balls. His wickets included key dismissals of Aryansh Sharma (four-ball duck) and Sohaib Khan in the final overs, ensuring Afghanistan stayed in control.
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Afghanistan’s spinners, including Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, also played crucial roles in the middle overs, applying pressure and picking timely wickets to curb UAE’s scoring.
Afghanistan’s Chase
Afghanistan faced early setbacks as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) and Gulbadin Naib (13) fell cheaply, leaving the team at 41 for 2 after the Powerplay. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with 53 off 41 balls, striking six boundaries and a six. After his dismissal, Darwish Rasooli (33) and Omarzai formed a decisive partnership, navigating the chase efficiently.
Rasooli counterattacked with 43 runs off 26 balls alongside Omarzai, before being bowled by Junaid Siddique. Needing 17 from the last two overs, Azmatullah Omarzai cleared the boundary and guided Afghanistan past the target, completing a fine all-round performance.
Key Contributions
Earlier, UAE’s Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu (40 off 29) had rebuilt the innings after early wickets, sharing an 84-run partnership. However, Afghanistan struck back in the middle overs, with Azmatullah Omarzai taking crucial wickets to keep UAE under pressure.
The victory showcased Azmatullah Omarzai match-winning abilities and helped Afghanistan stay competitive in the T20 World Cup, while UAE fell short despite strong performances from Sohaib and Sharafu.