Pakistan thrash Afghanistan by 75 runs to win tri-series final

SHARJAH: All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz picked up a five-wicket haul as Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs in the final of the T20 tri-series on Sunday.

Chasing 142, the Rashid Khan-led side was bowled out for 66 in 15.5 overs after Nawaz bagged his maiden hat-trick in the T20Is.

Shaheen Afridi provided the first breakthrough to the Men in Green when he dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed then removed Sediqullah Atal (13) in the fifth over to leave Afghanistan struggling at 28/2 in 4.4 overs.

However, it was Mohammad Nawaz who dismantled the Afghanistan batting lineup with back-to-back wickets in the final two balls of the sixth over.

He dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai for ducks as the side sank to 29/4 in six overs.

Coming in to bowl the eighth over, Nawaz removed Ibrahim Zadran (9) on the first ball to complete his maiden hat-trick.

The Pakistan all-rounder struck again in the same over two balls later when he dismissed Karim Jannat on a duck, reducing Afghanistan to 32/6 in 7.4 overs.

Mohammad Nabi fell to Abrar Ahmed after scoring three, while Rashid Khan (17) became Mohammad Nawaz’s fifth victim in the game to leave Afghanistan at 55/8 in 12.2 overs.

Sufiyan Muqeem then removed Noor Ahmed for three and AM Ghazanfar for seven to wrap up Afghanistan’s innings for 66 in 15.5 overs.

For Pakistan, Nawaz bagged a five-wicket haul, Sufiyan and Abrar took two wickets each, while Shaheen Afridi chipped in with a wicket.

Earlier, Rashid Khan took three wickets as Afghanistan restricted Pakistan to 141 in the final of the T20 tri-series.

The Men in Green suffered an early blow after opting to bat first as Sahibzada Farhan was bowled out by Fazalhaq Farooqi for a duck in the first over.

His opening partner, Saim Ayub, then raised an anchoring 48-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman before falling to Noor Ahmad on 17 off 19 balls.

Captain Salman Agha then joined Fakhar Zaman, with the scoreboard showing 49/2 in 7.5 overs.

Fakhar fell to Rashid Khan for 27 off 26 deliveries, as Pakistan were reduced to 51/3 in 8.2 overs.

Following his dismissal, Hasan Nawaz arrived at the crease and attempted to lift off with 15 off eight balls. However, he became Rashid Khan’s second victim while attempting a big shot in the 11th over of the inning.

Mohammad Haris fell to Noor Ahmad after scoring just two runs to bring Mohammad Nawaz to the crease.

Nawaz and Agha then stitched a 40-run partnership to take Pakistan past the 100-run mark.

Rashid Khan broke the stand when he removed Salman Agha for 24 off 27 balls in the 17th over, as Pakistan were reduced to 112/6.

Faheem Ashraf made 15 off eight balls before falling to AM Ghazanfar, while Mohammad Nawaz made 25 off 21 balls.

Shaheen Afridi remained unbeaten on two off four balls alongside Sufiyan Muqeem (0)* as Pakistan finished at 141/8 in their 20 overs.

For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan took three wickets, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Noor Ahmad picked up two wickets each, while Ghazanfar chipped in with a wicket.

Both teams finished the group stage with six points each, after facing one defeat against each other.

Hosts UAE crashed out of the series, with zero points after losing all four games.

Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Abrar Ahmed.