The United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricket team faced a tough loss against Afghanistan in the third T20 match played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The match was a closely fought contest, with both teams giving their all on the field. However, it was Afghanistan who emerged victorious, thanks to a solid batting performance and some excellent bowling.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the UAE got off to a good start, with openers Rohan Mustafa and Zawar Farid putting on a 44-run partnership. This was a crucial partnership for the UAE, as they had struggled with their opening partnership in the previous matches of the series. However, after the openers were dismissed, the UAE lost momentum in the middle overs, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Despite some late hitting by wicketkeeper-batsman Vriitya Aravind, who scored 35 runs off 28 balls, the UAE could only manage a total of 122 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. This was a below-par total, given the conditions and the quality of Afghanistan’s bowling attack.
Afghanistan’s bowlers were in top form, with spinner Rashid Khan being the standout performer. He finished with impressive figures of 3 for 28 from his four overs. Medium-pacer Karim Janat also chipped in with two wickets. The UAE’s batsmen struggled to score freely against the Afghan bowlers, with only two of their batsmen managing to score at a strike rate of over 100.
In response, Afghanistan got off to a shaky start, losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. However, their middle-order batsmen, led by Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi, steadied the ship with a solid partnership. They eventually chased down the target with four wickets and six balls to spare.
Zadran top-scored with an unbeaten 49 off 35 balls, while Nabi chipped in with a crucial 30 off 21 balls. For the UAE, medium-pacer Mohammad Naveed was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 28 from his four overs. Despite his efforts, the UAE were unable to defend their total, as Afghanistan’s batsmen proved too strong for their bowling attack.
The loss was a disappointing one for the UAE, who had put up a good fight in the previous matches of the series. However, they can take heart from the fact that they were able to compete with a strong Afghanistan side, and that they were able to put up a decent score despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
After the match, UAE’s captain Ahmed Raza was proud of his team’s efforts, saying, “We put up a good fight against a strong Afghanistan side. We need to work on our batting and build partnerships, but overall, I am happy with the way we played.” Raza’s comments were echoed by coach Robin Singh, who praised the team’s fighting spirit and determination.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with one more match to go. The fourth T20 will be played at the same venue on Tuesday. Both teams will be looking to win the final match and clinch the series, which promises to be an exciting and closely fought contest.
Overall, the match was a reminder of the growing popularity of cricket in the UAE, and of the country’s increasing presence in the international cricket scene. Despite facing some tough opposition, the UAE has shown that it has the talent and determination to compete with the best teams in the world. With more investment and support, the UAE’s cricket team could go on to achieve great things in the future.
