Pakistan's unbeaten run in Men's T20 World Cup 2021 continued as they handed Afghanistan their first defeat in 18 T20Is in the UAE on 29 October.
Chasing teams have won four out of four games here in Dubai, but Mohammad Nabi decided to back their strength and opted to bat. The call came under scrutiny soon, as Afghanistan’s top four – Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (8), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) and Asghar Afghan (10) – all fell inside the Powerplay, to four different bowlers.
Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat batted cautiously, adding 25 in 24 balls. Then Janat (17) holed out to Fakhar Zaman off Imad Wasim (2-25) in the 10th over. Najibullah (22) did not last long either, and Afghanistan were left reeling 76/6 in 12.5 overs.
Nabi (35*) and Gulbadin Naib (35*) held the fort from there. They struck nine fours and a six, and added an unbroken 71 in the last 43 balls to put up 147/6. They got 21 runs in the 18th over and 15 in the 19th, bowled by Hasan Ali (1-38) and Haris Rauf (1-37) respectively.
Afghanistan began with spin at both ends. Muje eb Ur Rahman (1-14) got Mohammad Rizwan (8) in the third over. At No. 3, Fakhar Zaman added 63 in 52 balls with Babar Azam.
After two disappointing overs in the Powerplay, Nabi returned in the 12th over to trap Zaman leg before immediately. Rashid Khan then became the quickest to 100 T20I wickets, when he got Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan were 97/3 after 14.1 overs, needing 51 in 29 balls.
Babar (51) notched his 22nd T20I fifty, but took 45 balls. He was not at his fluent best, and was eventually cleaned up by Rashid (2-26) in the 17th over. Shoaib Malik hit a six off Rashid, and a four, in his 15-ball 19, before edging Naveen-ul-Haq (1-22) to Shahzad in the next over.
With 24 to score in 13 balls, Shadab Khan wanted a single, but Asif Ali turned his back on him, retaining the strike against Karim Janat. He then hit Janat for 6, 0, 6, 0, 6, 6 to finish the match.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 147/6 in 20 overs (Gulbadin Naib 35*; Imad Wasim 2-25) lost to Pakistan 148/5 in 19 overs (Babar Azam 51; Rashid Khan 2-26) by 5 wickets with 6 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Asif Ali.