ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2018: Super Sixes Match 6, UAE vs Afghanistan: Match Review – CricketAddictor

The sixth game of the Super Six phase of the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifiers saw a clash between the bottom-placed United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.

A riveting low-scoring affair between the two Asian teams at the Old Hararians Sports Club, Harare saw… emerge victorious by a narrow margin.

The game was won by UAE captain Rohan Mustafa, who was looking to post a competitive total score ahead of the spirited Afghans. However, things did not go as expected for the Arabs as they lost wickets at regular intervals and only managed to record 177 wickets in total.

Thanks to Afghan top spinner Rashid Khan’s five-wicket haul, the UAE were bowled out in 43 overs. The world’s second-ranked bowler delivered exactly when he was needed most as he conceded just 41 in his nine overs and progressed through the UAE’s batting order.

Rashid Khan was well supported by seamer Dawlat Zadran, who secured three wickets in total, two of them with the new ball. Chirag Suri played a strange innings in his 22 runs, which came from 72 deliveries, reflecting UAE’s progress after the loss of Captain Rohan Mustafa slowed down.

Shaiman Anwar’s 64 anchored the UAE innings while Mohammad Naveed provided the finishing touch, scoring a 20-ball 45 that scored seven boundaries and two maximums. Naveed hit the ball at a rate of 225.

It seemed like Afghanistan could overtake UAE’s score with the batting line-up they have. But the game turned around when the Afghan team got off to a good start.

The men in blue and red lost the likes of Mohammad Shehzad, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Stanikzai by fifteen overs.

Afghanistan could only field 54 players as half of its team returned to the pavilion. Naveed continued where he left off but this time with the ball as he picked up a few wickets during the spell.

Qadeer Ahmed also gave equal support to Naveed as he grabbed a couple of wickets to create havoc in the Afghan camp. However, the game took a huge turn as Gulbadin Naib stood like the Rock of Gibraltar and wickets fell at the other end.

Additionally, Naib and Najibullah Zadran formed a match-winning partnership of 124 runs coming off just 15 overs. Naib scored a strong 74 off 97 balls while Najibullah Zadran played the standout ball with his counter-attacking approach.

Incredibly, under high pressure, Zadran hit a 64-ball 63 in an innings punctuated by five boundaries and a few maximums.

In the end, Afghanistan secured a handsome 5-wicket win after a major setback and picked up a few crucial points to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Short score

United Arab Emirates 177-10 (43);

Shaiman Anwar 64 (87). Muhammad Naveed 45 (20). Rashid Khan 15/41. Dawlat Zadran 3/45

Afghanistan 178-5 (34.3);

Gulbadin Naib 74 (97). Najibullah Zadran 63 (64). Mohammad Naveed 2/37. Qadeer Ahmed 2/38

Afghanistan won by 5 wickets

Points table