Shadab Khan, the captain of Pakistan, took 3-13 in 4 overs, while fast bowler Ihsanullah took 3-29 in 4 overs, giving Pakistan a consolation victory over Afghanistan in the third Twenty20 International on Monday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan avoided the humiliation of just a third T20I series whitewash by cruising to a 66-run victory against Afghanistan thanks to a significantly improved batting effort and a customarily clinical showing with the ball. In response, Afghanistan collapsed to 116 all out, never seriously pursuing the 182 Pakistan put up.
Pakistan was forced to bat first for the third game in a row after Afghanistan won the toss. As in the previous two games, the visitors quickly encountered difficulties in Sharjah. Mohammad Haris and Tayyab Tahir were eliminated by Mujeeb-ur Rehman and Mohammad Nabi’s spin, but Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique fought back with a counterattacking combination, swinging the momentum in Pakistan’s favour. The 20-ball, 35-run partnership, which featured Saim, who was one run short of a fifty, served as Pakistan’s offensive blueprint for the majority of the innings.
From there, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan grabbed control, pursuing each bowler as Afghanistan’s composure slipped a bit.
Pakistan scored a total that was far higher than any other team in the series with 74 runs coming off the final seven overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a quick start were critical components of any successful chase that had any chance of being realistic, but Imad Wasim, Zaman Khan, and Ihsanullah made sure that didn’t happen. Ihsanullah defeated Gurbaz in the Powerplay while rookie Sediqullah Atal struggled to a 19-ball 11 score. With the exception of a brief confrontation between Mohammad Nabi and Usman Ghani, there was no resistance, and when Ihsanullah returned, it was put an end to. As Karim Janat was out on the first ball and Najibullah Zadran was injured and left bleeding, Shadab’s double-strike, which featured his 100th T20I wicket, ruined any chances of an Afghan triumph.