Pakistan’s tri-series victory in Sharjah set the tone for an exciting tournament as Salman Agha’s half-century and Haris Rauf’s fiery spell led the team to a 39-run win against Afghanistan. Pakistan posted a strong total with aggressive batting before their bowlers, led by Rauf, dismantled Afghanistan’s chase with precision and pace.
Pakistan Sets the Stage with the Bat
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat on a surface that encouraged stroke play. The start was electric as Sahibzada Farhan came out with clear intent. He attacked Afghanistan’s frontline bowlers, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai, with power and timing. A straight six followed by a boundary lifted the momentum instantly.
Farhan’s aggression forced Afghanistan on the back foot, even though his innings was cut short at 21 off just 10 balls. Omarzai dismissed him early, but the platform was laid. Pakistan had 30 runs on the board inside three overs, giving their middle order the space to build.
Spinners Bring Afghanistan Back
Afghanistan’s spinners responded with control. Rashid Khan, as expected, applied immediate pressure with his variations. Alongside Mujeeb ur Rahman, he slowed Pakistan’s scoring rate. The next eight overs produced only 51 runs as wickets fell regularly.
Despite the slowdown, Pakistan’s deep batting lineup held firm. Their approach emphasized aggression till the end, a strategy that paid off in the later overs. With wickets in hand, the middle order prepared to accelerate again.
Read: Rashid Urges Calm Ahead of Afghanistan-Pakistan Tri-Series
Salman Agha Leads from the Front
Skipper Salman Agha then took charge. Facing Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s trump card, Salman showed remarkable confidence. He dispatched two massive sixes to the on-side, turning the tide back in Pakistan’s favor. That over leaked 17 runs and shifted momentum decisively.
Mohammad Nawaz followed his captain’s lead, launching big hits against Omarzai. The pressure on Afghanistan mounted as Salman kept the scoreboard ticking with calm yet powerful strokes. His unbeaten 53 from 36 balls anchored Pakistan’s innings. Supported by cameos from Nawaz, Haris, and Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan added 99 runs in the last nine overs.
By the end, Pakistan had reached 182 for 7, a challenging target on Sharjah’s surface.
Afghanistan’s Steady Response
Chasing 183, Afghanistan began with a mix of aggression and caution. Rahmanullah Gurbaz capitalized on the powerplay, striking boundaries with ease. Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal adopted a slower approach, ensuring stability while keeping pace with the required rate.
Their method worked well till the halfway mark. At 93 for 2 after 11 overs, Afghanistan looked firmly in the contest. The batting side relied on their lower order to finish strong if they stayed close to the target.
Haris Rauf Breaks the Game Open
The match changed dramatically in the 12th over when Haris Rauf returned to the attack. Bowling at searing pace, he delivered a double-wicket maiden that shattered Afghanistan’s rhythm. Atal misread a slower ball and fell to Shaheen Afridi’s safe hands. On the next delivery, Karim Janat misfired to deep square leg.
That single over collapsed Afghanistan’s composure. Within 16 balls, they lost five wickets for just four runs. Sufiyan Muqeem removed Darwish Rasooli, while Nawaz accounted for Omarzai. Mohammad Nabi also fell cheaply as the middle order crumbled under pressure.
From being in control, Afghanistan found themselves staring at defeat with the score stuck and wickets tumbling.
Rashid Khan’s Brief Resistance
Only Rashid Khan offered some late entertainment. He smashed 39 off 16 balls with fearless hitting, reminding fans of his all-round ability. However, his counterattack came too late. With no support from the other end, his effort only reduced the margin of defeat.
Afghanistan eventually folded for 143, handing Pakistan a convincing 39-run win.
Pakistan’s Depth Proves Vital
This victory highlighted Pakistan’s depth in both batting and bowling. The batting lineup stretched till number eight, ensuring late acceleration. Salman’s composed leadership and ability to take on Rashid Khan underlined his growing confidence. Farhan’s quick-fire start also showed Pakistan’s intent to dominate early.
In bowling, Rauf’s fiery pace and precision stood out, but support from Shaheen, Muqeem, and Nawaz kept Afghanistan under constant pressure. Together, they executed a clear plan of mixing pace with control, forcing errors from Afghan batters.
Afghanistan Left Searching for Answers
For Afghanistan, the defeat exposed familiar weaknesses. Their chase looked structured but lacked finishing power when pressure mounted. The reliance on Rashid Khan as both bowler and batter highlighted the absence of a reliable middle-order anchor. Their inability to handle Rauf’s pace underlined the need for better preparation against quality fast bowling.
Still, positives existed. Gurbaz and Atal showed promise at the top, while Rashid proved his worth as an impact player. If Afghanistan can learn from this collapse, they could bounce back stronger in the next matches.
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