AFG VS UAE T20I

Right then, that is it from this exciting encounter where United Arab Emirates level the series and it is all to play for in the third game. The 3rd T20I will be played on 2nd January, Tuesday at 7.30 pm IST (2pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. It is New Year's Eve and in a short while, we will be entering 2024. So, wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!

Muhammad Waseem, the victorious skipper of United Arab Emirates says he knew the wicket was great to bat on and was pretty confident about putting up at least 150 on the board. He talks about his opening partnership alongside Aryan Lakra and says he kept focusing on not losing that early wicket which could help them maximize later. He further adds that the catch he took was crucial and he has put in hard efforts to be the kind of fielder he is. He concludes that the preparation for the final match will be simple and to stick to the basics.

The captain of Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran says it was a chaseable total but the plan didn't go their way. He says that he always enjoys chasing and that he took some time initially and that he's not happy with the shot that he got out on. Adds that there were some mistakes in the batting and didn't create requisite partnerships to chase the total. Appreciates Mohammad Nabi and says that he's the most senior player in the side and has the experience to apply every time. He also says that they were still hopeful as he was at the crease and hitting the ball really well. But unfortunately, they didn't have enough wickets to cross the line. He concludes and says that they will come back stronger in the last game with positive energy and intent with a different plan.

Ali Naseer is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his excellent bowling figures. He says the wicket helped him a bit and he kept bowling tighter lines and lengths chasing dots. He concludes that the experience of playing against big teams like West Indies and Sri Lanka in the past 7 or 8 months has helped him improve as a bowler.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, United Arab Emirates posted a fighting total on the board courtesy of two excellent fifties from skipper Muhammad Waseem and Aryan Lakra. Azmatullah Omarzai and Qais Ahmad picked up a couple of wickets each for Afghanistan while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammad Nabi chipped in with one each. While chasing, Afghanistan got off to a good start but a huge collapse in the middle meant that the fiery knock from Nabi also could not get them the win here.

United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, will be extremely pleased with their effort with the ball and they were excellent in the field as well. They did concede a few runs in the Powerplay, but once  Ali Naseer got rid of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the hosts were always in the game. They were excellent in the middle overs and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals to keep the pressure on the batters. Aayan Khan once again was economical but Junaid Siddique was a bit expensive and in the penultimate over conceded 19 runs which could have proved costly but it did not. The star of the show was Naseer with four wickets while Muhammad Jawadullah also got four scalps, and in the end Akif Raja kept his cool against Nabi and wrapped things up for the hosts.

Afghanistan got off to a quick start with Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz both taking an attacking approach. The latter though lost his wicket trying to take advantage of the Powerplay but his opening partner continued in a similar fashion. Their captain Ibrahim Zadran departed pretty quickly and that started a mini collapse for them as they went from 63/1 to 99/6. However, Mohammad Nabi and Qais Ahmad kept them in hunt, but the latter failed to stick around, and they faced another collapse towards the end. It was all on the President to take the Afghans home in this game, and he almost pulled out a rabbit out of the hat with a quick-fire 47 off just 27 balls but just failed in the end as they fell short by 11 runs.

UAE ENDS 2023 WITH A THRILLING WIN! In doing so, they have leveled this series and we are going into the decider. The pendulum swung both ways in this game and it was pretty difficult to choose the winner till the 239th ball of this match. However, it is the hosts who kept their nerves well and got over the line while Afghanistan almost snatched the victory but is was just not meant to be.

OUT! TAKEN! Game, set, match! United Arab Emirates has found the equalizer in this series. Length ball just outside the off stump line, Mohammad Nabi goes for a big shot but gets the top edge of the blade and slices it straight towards backward point where Aryan Lakra takes an easy sitter. What an inspiring victory for the United Arab Emirates at Sharjah as they level the series by 1-1.

Bowls a short-pitched delivery outside off, rolling his fingers on the leather, Mohammad Nabi stays deep inside the crease and waits for it patiently and smashes it aerially towards deep covers where the fielder slides to stop it but cannot restrict Nabi from taking a double.

Back of a length, slower and outside off, Mohammad Nabi extends his arm and knocks it to deep point for no runs.

SIX! That's smoked out of here. Akif Raja serves this one in the slot, around middle and leg, Mohammad Nabi takes his front foot away and bangs this one to perfection over long on for a maximum.

Great start to the final over. Akif Raja pulls the length back a bit, outside off, pace off, Mohammad Nabi mistimes his cut to extra cover.

Who will bowl the last over? It will be Akif Raja. He has conceded 25 runs in his first two overs. Can he defend 19 here?

On a back of a length outside off, Fazalhaq Farooqi gets beaten all ends up on that one to end the over. Afghanistan needs 20 off the last 6 remaining balls. Can the President do it for the visitors?

Fuller and just outside off, Mohammad Nabi gets on the front foot and hits it in the air towards cow corner but finds the fielder patrolling the deep, he takes a single.