Dominant Afghanistan bounce back with victory against UAE

Rashid Khan took a three-wicket haul after Sadiqullah Atal and Ibrahin Zadran smacked blitzkrieg fifties as Afghanistan defeated UAE by 38 runs in their second match of the tri-series in Sharjah on Monday.

- Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Reporter

Muhammad Waseem and Ethan D'Souza kindled a brief optimism with a fighting 61-run partnership for the second wicket after an early departure of Muhammad Zohaib.

Waseem played another nervy innings to lead the fightback and keep the chase alive. In the 61-run stand D'Souza contributed only 12 runs.

Waseem, who is accustomed to playing big knocks and carrying the burden alone on his shoulders, was again in the thick of the action. He belted a blitzkrieg fifty sprinkled with six sixes and five fours.

Waseem sprinted to his fifty in just 25 balls to keep the UAE hopes alive. D'Souza and Waseem kept the Afghanistan bowlers at bay. The tension was building up in the Afghan camp.

When all the other bowlers failed to break the partnership, captain Rashid Khan himself took charge and broke the dangerous-looking partnership by trapping D'Souza.

Soon after the dismissal of D'Souza, Waseem was sent back by Sharafuddin Ashraf, who is renowned for taking the wickets of top-order batsmen. UAE were three down for 90 at the halfway mark.