All-rounder Omarzai delivers match-winning performance with bat and ball against UAE
It was a day of brilliant all-round cricket at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as Afghanistan secured a hard-fought 5-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup. In this crucial Group D encounter, Azmatullah Omarzai emerged as the hero, delivering with both the ball and the bat to guide his team across the finish line on Monday.
Chasing a competitive target of 161, Afghanistan faced some early jitters after losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. However, Ibrahim Zadran steadied the ship with a composed innings. Zadran scored a vital 53 off 41 balls, hitting six boundaries to keep the required run rate in check. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the middle order held firm.
The real turning point came from Omarzai, who walked in under pressure and played a match-defining knock. He remained unbeaten on 40 off just 21 balls, smashing three sixes to seal the game with four balls to spare. Darwish Rasooli also chipped in with a handy 33 to support the chase.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan elected to field first, a decision that paid off immediately. The UAE top order struggled against the pace and swing of the Afghan bowlers. It was Omarzai who did the damage early on, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for just 15 runs in his four-over spell.
Despite the early collapse, UAE fought back through a resilient partnership. Sohaib Khan played a spectacular knock, scoring 68 runs off 48 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes. He was well supported by Alishan Sharafu, who made 40. Their efforts helped UAE post a respectable total of 160/9.
However, the total proved insufficient against a determined Afghanistan batting lineup. This win strengthens Afghanistan's position in the Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup standings, while UAE will look to bounce back in their next game. For fans following sports news Odisha, this match offered plenty of excitement and high-quality cricket action.
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