Omarzai’s four-for restricts UAE to 160 for 9 despite Sohaib’s fighting fifty

NEW DELHI: Sohaib Khan struck a superb half-century but Azmatullah Omarzai claimed four wickets as Afghanistan restricted United Arab Emirates to 160 for nine in their must-win T20 World Cup match here on Monday.

Opting to bowl, Afghanistan reduced UAE to 13 for 2 early on, but Sohaib steadied the innings with a well-crafted 68 off 48 balls, laced with six fours and four sixes.

Sohaib stitched together a 57-ball 84-run partnership for the third wicket with Alishan Sharafu (40 off 29) to rebuild the innings after the early setbacks.Sohaib added another 31 runs with Haider Ali before Omarzai returned to dismiss him in the 19th over, completing his fourth wicket.

Earlier, last match’s hero Aryansh Sharma fell for a four-ball duck, under-edging a pull that was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Omarzai.UAE’s batters handled the Afghan spinners effectively during the Powerplay, punishing loose deliveries.

Sharafu struck two boundaries off Mujeeb as UAE raced to 55 for 2, before launching Rashid Khan for a six to bring up the half-century stand. Noor endured a tough spell, being hit for two sixes by Sohaib over cover and mid-wicket as UAE progressed to 93 for 2 in 10 overs.

Mujeeb eventually provided the breakthrough, with Sharafu holing out to Ibrahim Zadran at long-off.

Omarzai then struck twice in his third over, cleaning up Syed Haider (13) and inducing an edge from Harshit

Skipper Muhammad Waseem (10) struck two boundaries before being trapped in front by Mujeeb Ur Rahman as UAE slipped to 13 for 2.