Pakistan have won the tri-nation series as Mohammad Nawaz took five-for to skittle out Afghanistan on 66 inside the 16th over at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
AFGHANISTAN’S INNINGS
Chasing a 142-run target, Afghanistan had no clue to negotiate against the Pakistan spinners. The Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan have won by 75 runs.
AM Ghazanfar was the last one to depart, leading to the triumph for the Green Shirts ahead of the forthcoming Asia Cup.
Mohammad Nawaz took a hat-trick to perplex the Afghanistan’s batting attack as the Green Shirts were dominating the Rashid Khan-led side.
The wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5) started the slide and it went downhill quickly thereafter.
Sediqullah Atal (13), Ibrahim Zadran (9), Darwish Rasooli (0), Azmatullah Omarzai (0) and Karim Janat (0) failed to show any resistance with the bat.
Mohammad Nabi was undone by Abrar on 3.
Rashid Khan made his way back to the pavilion, scoring 18-ball 17, studding with two boundaries.
Sufiyan Muqeem has removed Noor Ahmad (3).
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz (5-19) was brilliant with the bowl and became the third bowler to complete hat-trick in the T20Is.
Abrar Ahmed (2-17) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2-9) have picked up two wickets apiece.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-7) took a scalp.
Abrar Ahmed (2-17) has picked up two wickets.
PAKISTAN’S INNINGS
Fakhar Zaman (27) and Salman Ali Agha (24) have powered Pakistan to 141-8 against Afghanistan.
Fazalhaq Farooqi has removed Mohammad Nawaz on 21-ball 25, lacing with two sixes.
Nawaz perished after creaming a six on first delivery of the last over.
Faheem Ashraf who was looking good with the bat but youngster AM Ghazanfar removed the Pakistan all-rounder on 8-ball 15.
Ashraf clubbed two boundaries and one six.
Salman Ali Agha has made his way back to the pavilion after scoring laboured 27-ball 24.
He creamed two sixes off Rashid Khan in the 17th over, but in the end the Afghan captain was good enough to remove Agha.
Noor Ahmad has perplexed Mohammad Haris on 3-ball 2, who had a poor show with the bat in the entire series.
After a brief pause, Hasan Nawaz decided to smash Afghan captain Rashid Khan out of the park, but he was removed on the fifth delivery of the 11th over.
Hasan scored 8-ball 15, creaming one boundary and one six.
Pakistan faced more agony after losing their veteran batter Fakhar Zaman off captain Rashid Khan.
Fakhar has scored 26-ball 27, creaming two boundaries and one six.
Saim Ayub has made his way back to the pavilion with a tentative shot off Noor Ahmad, who was once again clever enough to deceive the batter.
Ayub could only score 19-ball 17, lacing with two boundaries.
Pakistan have scored 41 runs in the powerplay, ensuring to bounce back after early hiccup.
Fakhar Zaman smacked a six off Nabi’s last delivery to spoil his first over as the latter conceded 13 runs.
The Green Shirts have scored 19 runs in first four overs as Saim and Fakhar were looking to stitch a partnership.
Pakistan were off to a jittery start as Fazalhaq Farooqi has removed Sahibzada Farhan on 0 in the first over.
For Afghanistan, skipper Rashid Khan rose to the occasion, picking up three wickets.
Noor Ahmad (2-17) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-19) have picked up two wickets apiece.
AM Ghazanfar (1-27) took a scalp each.
Azmatullah Omarzai (0-5) and Mohammad Nabi (0-28) remained wicketless.
TOSS
Pakistan have elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the final match of the tri-nation series.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish, Karim, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
