New Delhi, Feb 16 (NationPress) Azmatullah Omarzai dazzled with a remarkable bowling performance of 4-15 and an impressive unbeaten score of 40 runs off just 21 balls, guiding Afghanistan to their inaugural win in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup with a five-wicket triumph over the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.

On a slightly damp pitch, Omarzai skillfully adjusted his line and length to dismantle the lower order of the UAE batting lineup. Mohammad Mujeeb Ur Rahman supported well with two wickets, while Rashid Khan bowled effectively to restrict the UAE to 160/9.

After a shaky start, UAE's innings gained stability thanks to a solid third-wicket partnership of 84 runs between Alishan Sharafu (40) and Sohaib Khan (68). They handled the spin with calculated aggression, injecting momentum into their innings.

Sohaib’s impressive 68, his second consecutive fifty at this ground, was achieved off 47 balls and included five fours and two sixes. His performance ensured that the UAE reached 160 despite losing four wickets in the final five overs.

In response, opener Ibrahim Zadran contributed a composed 53 runs off 41 balls, while Omarzai’s late flourish ensured that Afghanistan completed the chase with four balls to spare, despite the UAE bowlers putting up a strong fight. This victory also keeps Afghanistan's slim chances of advancing to the Super Eights alive.

Zadran stabilized the innings with a fluid knock featuring five fours and a six, but his dismissal opened the door for the UAE. It was up to Omarzai to seal the victory, and he did so in style with two fours and three sixes, marking Afghanistan's first points of the tournament.

For the UAE, Muhammad Arfan's disciplined bowling earned him two wickets, contributing to a tense chase, but the batting collapse during the middle overs left them with a less competitive total. Their score of 160 was merely average, and Afghanistan’s batting prowess proved crucial. This win also confirmed South Africa's qualification for the Super Eights, joining India and West Indies who had already secured their spots.

Aryansh Sharma faced a shaky beginning, surviving a caught-behind appeal off Omarzai's very first delivery, as replays indicated that the edge just failed to carry to Rahmanullah Gurbaz. After a lengthy review, he was deemed not out, but his luck was short-lived.

On the fourth delivery, a similar scenario unfolded — the ball brushed the bat, fielders appealed, and the third umpire confirmed the dismissal after a DRS check. Muhammad Waseem looked promising initially, striking a powerful push past mid-on followed by a slog sweep that pierced square leg for consecutive boundaries.

However, his positive start was cut short as he fell lbw to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with replays showing the ball clipping the top of off-stump. The UAE's innings gained pace during the fourth and fifth overs, with Sohaib and Sharafu counter-attacking to elevate the run rate.

Sharafu found his rhythm against Mujeeb, lofting straight over the bowler's head and sweeping with authority. They combined for 28 runs off successive overs, pushing UAE to 55/2 at the end of the power-play.

Mujeeb and Rashid operated with a slip in place, probing for edges, but occasionally bowling fuller lengths allowed batters to score runs. Sohaib, in particular, punished Noor Ahmad with back-to-back boundaries and a six, while he and Rashid Khan were also struck for maxima by Sharafu.

Despite Sharafu's dismissal to Mujeeb, which broke a promising 84-run partnership, Sohaib continued to rotate the strike, while Syed Haider made a mark with a crisp sweep for four and a towering six against Noor.

Sohaib reached his fifty with a lofted six over Rashid's head, but lost support from the other end as Omarzai dismissed Syed Haider and took out off-stump with a well-placed delivery. Harshit Kaushik edged behind for a duck, and Muhammad Arfan was out hit wicket off Rashid, who claimed his 700th T20 wicket.

Sohaib and Haider Ali shifted gears to provide the UAE with a good finishing flourish through a flurry of strokes against Rahman. Sohaib swivelled to dispatch a short delivery over long leg for six, while Haider opened the bat face late to glide a short ball past the keeper for four, and then unfurled a crisp cover drive.

After Sohaib sliced through the gap at point, he attempted to pull a short ball from Omarzai but top-edged, leading to a catch in the deep. Haider and Junaid Siddique were run out in the final over, accumulating 46 runs in the last five overs.

Afghanistan's reply began with a setback as Rahmanullah Gurbaz attempted a loft over cover off Junaid Siddique but ended up slicing tamely to point, departing for a two-ball duck. While Siddique and Haider Ali continued to challenge the batters with movement and bounce, Ibrahim Zadran broke free by lifting a half-volley from Siddique over the bowler's head for a boundary.

The innings gained momentum in the fourth over as Zadran unleashed a cut, sweep, and lofted drive to collect three boundaries in quick succession off Ali. Gulbadin Naib joined in by smashing Jawadullah over long-on for a towering six followed by a cover drive for four.

However, just as Afghanistan seemed to find their rhythm, Muhammad Arfan struck as Gulbadin offered a simple catch to point, departing for 13. Zadran continued to anchor the innings, taking singles and hitting the occasional boundary, while Sediqullah Atal began by clipping Arfan for four, before sending Simranjeet Singh over long-on for six.

But Jawadullah produced a stunning yorker that sneaked past Atal's bat to demolish the off-stump. Zadran remained impeccable, going back to pull Simranjeet for four, and reached his fifty in 37 balls with a brace through mid-wicket.

The UAE's decision to bring back Arfan worked wonders as Zadran, attempting to pull a slower ball, top-edged to mid-wicket. With 61 runs required off 36 balls, Afghanistan sought timely boundaries to stay alive. Darwish Rasooli relieved some pressure by flicking Jawadullah for four, while Omarzai lofted Simranjeet over long-off for six.

Rasooli then lofted Arfan straight down the ground for a towering six, followed by a four past a diving fielder. Omarzai welcomed a returning Siddique with a clean swing over long-off for six, but the UAE struck a decisive blow when the pacer knocked Rasooli’s stumps with a full and straight ball.

Omarzai broke free from Jawadullah’s slower balls by smashing him over deep extra cover for six and then tickling through fine leg for four. He fittingly capped off the chase in style with a lofted drive over cover, securing Afghanistan's first win of the tournament.

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.