Afghanistan Spinners Shine, Zadran & Atal Lead 18-Run Win vs Pakistan : Match Reports & Stats
Score: Afghanistan 169 for 5 (Zadran 65, Atal 64, Ashraf 4-27) beat Pakistan 151 for 9 (Rauf 34*, Nabi 2-20, Noor 2-20) by 18 runs
Player Of The Match: Ibrahim Zadran, AFG
Afghanistan’s Spinners Dominate Pakistan
In a thrilling T20 clash at Sharjah, Afghanistan’s spinners showcased a brilliant performance to secure an 18-run victory over Pakistan. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad shared six crucial wickets, leaving Pakistan struggling against spin. Afghanistan scored 169 for 5, largely due to the outstanding partnership between Ibrahim Zadran (65) and Sediqullah Atal (64). Pakistan could only manage 151 for 9, despite a late surge from Haris Rauf (34*).
Zadran and Atal Build a Strong Foundation
Afghanistan began cautiously after losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz early. However, Atal and Zadran stabilized the innings, adding a 113-run second-wicket partnership that became the backbone of their total. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Faheem Ashraf, had occasional success but failed to break the partnership early. Ashraf’s four-wicket spell was a rare highlight for Pakistan.
Dew and Spin: Pakistan Struggles
The dew in Sharjah did little to help Pakistan as Afghanistan’s spinners exploited the conditions expertly. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad made batting extremely difficult with their variations and precise bowling. Pakistan’s middle order collapsed from 62 for 2 to 82 for 6, leaving them in trouble. Mohammad Nabi’s disciplined bowling further restricted Pakistan’s scoring rate.
Late Resistance from Pakistan
Despite a promising start by Fakhar Zaman and a late cameo by Haris Rauf, Pakistan could not recover from the spin onslaught. Rauf scored 34 off just 16 balls, but Afghanistan’s spinners kept control throughout, showcasing why they are confident defending totals in T20 cricket.
Zadran and Atal’s Stellar Partnership
Ibrahim Zadran’s consistency was evident as he notched his second fifty in two games of the UAE T20I tri-series. Atal’s support in the partnership highlighted Afghanistan’s depth in batting. This innings reinforced Afghanistan’s growing strength in international T20 cricket, especially in spin-friendly conditions.
Pakistan Needs to Improve Against Spin
Pakistan struggled to read the flight, turn, and pace variations of Afghanistan’s spinners. Noor Ahmad, who had been benched in earlier games, made an immediate impact by taking key wickets. Rashid Khan’s clever variations and Nabi’s disciplined approach kept Pakistan under pressure.
Faheem Ashraf’s Silver Lining
Faheem Ashraf’s three-over spell was a bright spot, taking four wickets and conceding only 18 runs. His performance, including breaking the Atal-Zadran partnership, was commendable but not enough to secure a win for Pakistan.
Emotional and Strategic Victory for Afghanistan
The win was not only about cricket but also an emotional victory for Afghanistan, reflecting resilience and composure. Afghanistan’s spinners proved once again that they can dominate any batting lineup when conditions favour spin.
Conclusion
Afghanistan’s emphatic win over Pakistan was built on solid batting by Zadran and Atal and a spectacular spin performance from Rashid, Nabi, and Noor. Pakistan’s struggle against quality spin, despite brief resistance from Rauf and Ashraf, led to a middle-order collapse. This match highlights Afghanistan’s spin strength and serves as a reminder for Pakistan to enhance their technique against world-class spin bowling.
Match Stats
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 169/5 (Zadran 65, Atal 64, Ashraf 4-27) |
| Pakistan | 151/9 (Rauf 34*, Nabi 2-20, Noor 2-20) |
| Player of the Match | Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) |
Most T20I Wins at a Venue (Full Member Teams)
- 24 — Bangladesh (SBNS Mirpur)
- 19 — Afghanistan (Sharjah)
- 18 — Pakistan (Dubai)
- 16 — Pakistan (Lahore)
- 14 — South Africa (Johannesburg)
Haris Rauf Four Sixes Record
- 4 sixes — Haris Rauf — Joint-record for No. 10/11 batsman in T20Is. Only Akeal Hosein (vs England, Bridgetown 2022) among Full Members teams has done it before.
Pakistan Highest 10th Wicket T20I Partnership
- 40* — Haris Rauf & Sufiyan Muqeem — Pakistan’s highest 10th wicket T20I stand, surpassing 31* by Shoaib Akhtar & Wahab Riaz vs New Zealand, Auckland 2010.
Mohammad Nabi T20I Milestone
- 1000 runs & 100 wickets — Mohammad Nabi — Second all-rounder to achieve this in Men’s T20Is after Shakib Al Hasan (2551 runs, 149 wickets).
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