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SHARJAH: Mohammad Nawaz delivered a stellar performance with a five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, as Pakistan demolished Afghanistan by 75 runs in the final of the tri-nation T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
In response to a modest target of 142 runs, Afghanistan collapsed for just 66 runs in 15.5 overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5) fell cheaply to Shaheen Shah Afridi in the opening over of the Pak vs Afg final.
The second wicket was taken by Abrar Ahmed on the fourth ball of the fourth over when Sediqullah Atal (13) was caught by Faheem Ashraf at 28-2, which caused a collapse, and no Afghan batter was able to provide stability to their batting line.
The introduction of Mohammad Nawaz in the sixth over proved a nightmare for Afghanistan as he removed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai on consecutive deliveries to put Pakistan in pole position.
To add more woes to Afghanistan, on the first ball of the seventh over, Mohammad Nawaz completed his hat-trick, sending Ibrahim Zadran for nine, thanks to Mohammad Haris for a sharp stumping.
The left-arm spinner continued on and also dismissed Karim Janat for a duck, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 32-5.
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The Afghan team’s continued struggles with no stability from the middle order and lower order, as the Green Shirts clinched a massive victory ahead of the T20I Asia Cup 2025, which starts on Tuesday.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz was the standout bowler with 5/19 in four overs, while Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem took two wickets each.
Earlier, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Pakistan was restricted to 141-8 in 20 overs by Afghan bowlers, courtesy of Rashid Khan, who remained the standout bowler with a three-wicket haul.
Pakistan got off to a similar start as Afghanistan, with Sahibzada Farhan being dismissed on the third ball of the match by Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman tried to steady the ship, but both the batters went one after another in a span of four deliveries.
Noor Ahmed sent Saim to the dugout for 17 runs of 28 balls while Fakhar was dismissed for 27 off 26 balls by Rashid Khan, leaving Pakistan at 3-51 in 8.2 overs.
Wickets continued falling as Rashid struck again following the drinks break, sending Hasan Nawaz for 15, while Noor Ahmad cleaned up Mohammad Haris at 5-72 in 11.3 overs.
Yet, Mohammad Nawaz played a crucial cameo with 25 off 21, hitting two sixes before being perished on the second ball of the last over.
Pakistan finished their innings at 141-8 in their 20 overs.
For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 3/38 in four overs. Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed two wickets each.
