Sharjah, 2 September (Kiran News): Afghanistan recorded their first victory in the tri-series by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 38 runs on Monday night. Star spinner Rashid Khan set a major milestone, becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20 International cricket.
The 26-year-old Rashid claimed three wickets in the match, taking his tally to 165 and surpassing New Zealand pacer Tim Southee’s previous record of 164 wickets. Rashid dismissed Ethan D’Souza (12), Asif Khan (1), and Dhruv Parashar (1) to achieve this feat.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a total of 188 for 4 wickets. Ibrahim Zadran (63 runs off 40 balls, 4 sixes, 3 fours) and Sediqullah Atal (54 runs off 40 balls, 3 sixes, 4 fours) put together an 84-run partnership for the second wicket. This was Atal’s maiden T20 International half-century.
In the final overs, Karim Janat (23* off 10 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Azmatullah Omarzai (20* off 12 balls, 2 sixes) played explosive cameos to boost the total. For UAE, Muhammad Rohid and Sagheer Khan took two wickets each.
Chasing the target, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem gave a strong start with a blistering 67 off 37 balls, including 6 sixes and 4 fours, marking his 23rd T20I half-century. However, after his dismissal, UAE lost momentum and managed only 150 for 8 in their 20 overs.
With this win, Afghanistan has made a comeback in the series. Pakistan has already won both their matches and will face Afghanistan next on Tuesday. Each of the three teams plays two matches, with the top two advancing to the final on 7 September.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
