New Delhi, Feb 16 (NationPress) Afghanistan managed to overcome initial setbacks to achieve a five-wicket victory against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking their first win in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. This victory keeps Afghanistan's hopes of reaching the Super Eights alive.

Opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran played a pivotal role with a steady 53 runs off 41 deliveries, while Azmatullah Omarzai contributed significantly with an unbeaten 40 runs off just 21 balls, ensuring that Afghanistan completed their chase with four balls remaining, despite a valiant effort from UAE's bowlers.

The chase for 161 started poorly, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Gulbadin Naib, and Sediqullah Atal dismissed before the innings reached halfway. Zadran anchored the innings with a fluent knock featuring five fours and a six; however, his dismissal opened the door for UAE. Omarzai, who previously excelled with figures of 4-15, stepped up to finish the match. His explosive 21-ball innings included two fours and three sixes, securing Afghanistan's crucial points in the tournament.

For UAE, Muhammad Arfan delivered a disciplined bowling performance, taking two wickets and maintaining pressure on the chase, but their batting collapse during the middle overs left them with a less-than-competitive total. Their score of 160 was merely average, highlighting Afghanistan's batting depth as the key to their success. This outcome also confirmed South Africa's progression to the Super Eights, alongside India and the West Indies, who had already secured their spots.

Afghanistan's innings began dramatically, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz slicing a delivery from Junaid Siddique to point, departing for a duck on just his second ball. Siddique and Haider Ali posed challenges with their movement and bounce, but Zadran found his rhythm by lifting a half-volley from Siddique for his first boundary.

The innings gained momentum in the fourth over as Zadran dispatched three boundaries in quick succession off Ali, while Gulbadin Naib joined the scoring spree by hitting a six and a four off Jawadullah.

Just as Afghanistan appeared to settle, Muhammad Arfan struck again, dismissing Naib for 13. Zadran continued to stabilize the innings, rotating the strike and hitting boundaries, while Sediqullah Atal began his innings with a four, before hitting a six off Simranjeet Singh.

However, Jawadullah bowled a brilliant yorker, clean-bowling Atal. Zadran, maintaining his focus, executed a pull shot off Simranjeet for four and reached his fifty with a double through mid-wicket.

UAE's decision to reintroduce Arfan paid off as Zadran's attempt to pull a slower ball resulted in a top edge to mid-wicket. With 61 runs needed off 36 balls, Afghanistan began to find timely boundaries. Darwish Rasooli eased the pressure with a flick for four, followed by Omarzai lofting a six over long-off.

Rasooli then struck a towering six off Arfan, followed by a four through an on-drive. Omarzai greeted Siddique with another six, but UAE took a crucial wicket when Siddique bowled Rasooli.

Omarzai continued to attack, hitting a six over deep extra cover and collecting a four through fine leg. He fittingly concluded the chase with a stylish lofted drive over cover, securing Afghanistan's first victory in the competition.

Brief Scores: UAE 160/9 in 20 overs (Sohaib Khan 68, Alishan Sharafu 40; Azmatullah Omarzai 4-15, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-31) lost to Afghanistan 162/5 in 19.2 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 53, Azmatullah Omarzai 40 not out; Junaid Siddique 2-23, Muhammad Arfan 2-30) by five wickets.