Azmatullah stars in Afghanistan win over UAE Afghanistan kept alive their hopes of reaching the Super Eight phase of the Twenty20 World Cup after all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai’s heroics guided them to a five-wicket Group D victory over UAE on Monday. The result saw group leaders South Africa (six points, three games) make the Super Eight along with defending champions India and two-time winners West Indies.
New Zealand, who are four points ahead with a game in hand against bottom-placed Canada on Tuesday. appear set to snatch the second Super Eight place from Group D.
Sohaib Khan (68) inspired a fightback to propel UAE to a competitive total of 160-9 after being sent in to bat. Omarzai, who also took 4-15 with the ball, came back in to smash an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls to claim a first win of this year’s tournament for former semifinalists Afghanistan by four balls remaining.
“It´s always good if a team wins at the World Cup and hopefully we´ll do well in the remaining games,” said Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan.
“We still have a bit of hope that we can push forward to the next level. All we have to do is find a positive attitude.
“Whether we qualify for the next round or not, whether we play consistent cricket and make our country proud.
TV umpire Paul Reiffel was earlier thrust into the action in the first four overs with Rashid winning the toss and opting to field at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
UAE opener Aryansh Sharma managed to edge the first delivery from Omarzai but it was not clear whether wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz took a clean catch. Reiffel saw umpteen replays and then gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman.
Three balls later, Reiffel had a similar task and this time the official ruled that Aryansh was indeed out, caught behind for a duck.
Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman pinned UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem lbw for 10, a decision upheld by Reiffel after the batsman reviewed it.
Sohaib was adjudged lbw off Mujeeb in the fourth over but a review found the ball would have clipped the leg stump.
The let-off enabled Sohaib to share an 84-run partnership with Alishan Sharafu (40) as UAE stabilised their innings.
Omarzai eventually dismissed Sohaib after an impressive 24-ball innings that included four sixes and six fours.
Afghanistan lost in-form opener Gurbaz in the first over but first Ibrahim Zadran (53) and then Darwish Rasooli (33) ensured they stayed in the hunt.
Omarzai, found the ropes after winding up a great win for Afghanistan with a boundary off Junaid Siddique.