New Delhi, February 16 Sohaib Khan scored a brilliant half-century, but Azmatullah Omarzai took four wickets as Afghanistan restricted the United Arab Emirates to 160 for nine in their must-win T20 World Cup match here on Monday.
Bowling first, Afghanistan reduced UAE to 13 for 2 early on, but Sohaib steadied the innings with a well-crafted 68 off 48 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes.
Sohaib then formed a 57-ball 84-run partnership for the third wicket with Alishan Sharafu (40 off 29) to rebuild the innings after the early setbacks.
However, Afghanistan clawed back with a series of wickets in the middle overs, leaving UAE at 121 for 6 in the 16th over.
Sohaib added another 31 runs with Haider Ali before Omarzai dismissed him in the 19th over, completing his fourth wicket.
Earlier, last match's hero Aryansh Sharma was out for a duck, mistiming a pull shot that was safely caught by wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Omarzai. Skipper Muhammad Waseem (10) then struck two boundaries before being dismissed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, leaving UAE at 13 for 2.
Afghanistan's replacement pacer Ziaur Rahman, who came in for left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, and spinner Noor Ahmad proved expensive.
Rahman conceded 16 runs in his opening over, with Sohaib striking three boundaries.
The UAE batters effectively handled the Afghan spinners during the Powerplay, punishing loose deliveries. Sharafu struck two boundaries off Mujeeb as the UAE raced to 55 for 2, before launching Rashid Khan for a six to reach their half-century stand.
Noor endured a tough spell, being hit for two sixes by Sohaib over cover and mid-wicket as the UAE progressed to 93 for 2 in 10 overs.
Mujeeb eventually provided the breakthrough, with Sharafu holing out to Ibrahim Zadran at long-off. Omarzai then struck twice in his third over, dismissing Syed Haider (13) and inducing an edge from Harshit Kaushik (0).
Sohaib completed his half-century off 37 balls with a six, but Muhammad Arfan (0) fell while attempting a reverse hit, hitting his own stumps.
Omarzai then wrapped up Sohaib's resistance in the 19th over, completing a fine spell.
