By Zeeshan Hussain
Sharjah/ Karachi, Mohammad Nawaz’s career-best spell powered Pakistan to a thumping 75-run win over Afghanistan in the final of the tri-seri Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chasing 142, Afghanistan were bowled out for just 66 runs, their second-lowest T20I total.
Pakistan struck early when Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the opening over. Ibrahim Zadran (9) and Sediqullah Atal (13) offered brief resistance, but once Abrar Ahmed dismissed Atal, Afghanistan’s innings collapsed under relentless pressure.
The highlight of the night came in the sixth over when Nawaz dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai off successive deliveries before trapping Ibrahim Zadran lbw to complete his maiden T20I hat-trick — only the third by a Pakistani in the format. He went on to claim Karim Janat and Rashid Khan to finish with dream figures of 5 for 19. Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim took two wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings started shakily as Sahibzada Farhan fell for a duck to Fazalhaq Farooqi. Fakhar Zaman (27) and Saim Ayub (17) built a 49-run stand, but Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad struck in quick succession to leave Pakistan at 72-5. Skipper Salman Ali Agha (24) and Nawaz then steadied the ship with a valuable sixth-wicket partnership.
A quickfire cameo from Faheem Ashraf (15 off 8) lifted Pakistan to 141-8 in 20 overs. Rashid Khan finished with 3-38, while Noor Ahmad claimed two wickets. In reply, Afghanistan faltered against Nawaz’s brilliance, as Pakistan wrapped up the tri-series in style with a dominant all-round display.
