Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates Ball by Ball Commentary - T20I Tri-Series in UAE 2025

19.6OUT! IN AIR... TAKEN! That's it, Afghanistan wins the encounter, but what a game of cricket we have just witnessed! Fareed Ahmad delivers a full-length delivery, around off. Asif Khan launches it up, toward the long off region, but gets more elevation on it than the required distance to sail over the ropes. Two fielders converge, one from long on and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from long off. Gurbaz calls for the catch, and keeps calm in his veins. The fielder from long on shows good presence of mind and just halts for Gurbaz to swallow the catch safely. Asif Khan admonishes himself in utter disappointment and understably so. He nearly brought the hosts on the cusp of a victory, but it was not meant to be yet again for them. Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 4 runs!

19.5Fuller, wide outside off. Asif Khan yet again crouches and tries to replicate the shot that he connected in the first delivery of the over, but fails to do so in this one. The ball misses the outer edge, and now only 5 needed off 1 ball. Super over? Anyone?

19.4Huge appeal from Afghanistan for caught behind, but no, says the umpire! Much fuller, pitching it outside off and shaping it a bit in. Asif Khan looks to drive hard at it, but the ball bumps off the inside edge and goes flat to the keeper. Mohammad Ishaq collects and underarms the throw toward the bowler as Harshit Kaushik sets off quickly for a run, but is sent back by Asif. Ahmad fails to collect the ball as he is adamantly appealing and is a bit frustrated as well. The ball is picked up by Ibrahim Zadran, who runs in from mid off. The replay shows that the ball has clearly bumped off the inside edge.

19.3Full and outside off. Asif Khan prods and lofts it toward the left of the sweeper cover for a couple of runs. Hang on, the onfield umpires want to have a check whether there's a short run at the non-striker's end. One angle suggests touch and go, but the other side-on angle does show some part of Asif's bat getting dragged inside the crease. Hence, it is not deemed a short run and two runs will count.

19.2SIX! EXCEPTIONAL! Asif Khan is on fire! Short of a length, angling away from the batter. Asif Khan punches it from the middle of his blade, up and over the deep cover fence for half a dozen. 7 runs off 4 deliveries!

19.1FOUR! Streaky, but who cares! Asif Khan starts well! Pitches it up, much fuller, wide outside off, around the tramline. Asif Khan extends his arm to carve it powerfully through the off side. Only manages to get off the outside edge of the bat. The ball shoots just over and right of the short third fielder for a boundary.

18.6Fuller, on off. Harshit Kaushik shuffles across and drives it back to the bowler. Afghanistan needs 17 in the final over!

18.5FOUR! DROPPED AND A BOUNDARY! That's a bit casual approach from the debutant Abdullah Ahmadzai! Sharafuddin Ashraf bowls short, on middle. Harshit Kaushik hangs back and pulls it toward deep square leg for a big one. The ball loops toward Ahmadzai, who judges the catch well but spills out the sitter and the ball pops out of his hands. And to make matters worse, the ball tips into the boundary ropes on a couple of bounces. Sharafuddin Ashraf is fuming and understandably so.

18.4Tossed up, on off. Asif Khan slogs it from the inner part of his willow toward square leg for a single. The 150 is up for United Arab Emirates. They need 21 runs to win off 8 balls.

18.3FOUR! Super shot! Short, and outside off. Asif Khan gets forward and whacks it toward long on fence for a boundary.

18.2That was really close than it appeared! The absent-mindedness of Asif Khan could have cost UAE a wicket! Short of a length, just outside off, spinning it away from the batter. Asif Khan attempts to hoick it across the line, but misses on the outside edge. Mohammad Ishaq does well to collect it behind the stumps, and whips the bails off in a flash. Now, the question is whether the batter's foot is on the line, or inside the line. Khan's luck clicks and he manages to have some part of his boot inside the popping crease when the stumps are dislodged by Ishaq. NOT OUT!

18.1Short, on middle. Harshit Kaushik mistimes his pull toward fine leg and they cross for a single.

17.6Yorker, down the leg. Asif Khan makes room and fails to swat it away.

17.5FOUR! A boundary after the six! 27 runs needed off 13 deliveries! Short of a length, on middle and leg. Asif Khan swivels and pulls it. The ball rolls to the right of the diving deep square leg fielder and the batter gets four more runs.

17.4SIX! Up, up and away! A slower delivery, on length on off and middle. Asif Khan reads the delivery like a book and pulls it over the deep mid-wicket fielder for six more runs.

17.3Bumper, on middle. Asif Khan arches back to make a leave. Not given a wide as Asif was looking at the leg umpire.

17.2Fuller on leg. Asif Khan lofts it over the head of the bowler. A couple taken in the middle.

17.1FOUR! Excellent start to the over for Afghanistan! Abdullah Ahmadzai misses his yorker and bowls a low full toss around his pads. Asif Khan flicks it full-fledgedly toward the gap of the deep mid-wicket and wide long on fielders.

16.6Short on middle, spins it in. Harshit Kaushik misses his pull. The ball bounces over the middle stump.

16.5Short and outside off. Asif Khan slaps it against the pace over the head of the bowler for a single.

16.4Touch fuller, on leg stump, angling it down the leg. Asif Khan clears his front foot to heave it away, but gets beaten and pings on his back thigh pad.

16.3Quicker, short on middle and leg. Harshit Kaushik mistimes his pull toward mid-wicket and gets a single.

16.2SIX! BOOM! United Arab Emirates will need a couple more of these! Tossed up, on off and middle. Harshit Kaushik crouches low and slog sweeps it to clear the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

16.1That one stays low! Fuller, wide outside off. Harshit Kaushik looks to go big toward the leg side but fails to connect.

15.6Short, wide outside off. Harshit Kaushik cuts it toward deep cover for one run. Just 5 off this over, and only 13 runs from the last three overs for UAE! Noor Ahmad ends his spell with figures of 4-0-23-1.

15.6WIDE! Fuller, darts it down the leg. Harshit Kaushik hangs back and attempts a pull, but once again misses the connection.

15.5Short, outside off. Asif Khan cuts it toward cover for a single.

15.4Swing and a miss! Short, angling outside off. Asif Khan tries to swat it across the line but misses on the outer edge.

15.3Short, on middle. Harshit Kaushik clears his front foot and miscues his heave. The ball loops and drops safely toward the right of the fine leg fielder. The batter gets a single.

15.3WIDE! Flat and quicker, but wide outside off, beyond the tramline. Harshit Kaushik makes a leave.

15.2Another short of a length, outside off. Harshit Kaushik goes deep into his crease and pushes it toward the point fielder.

15.1Short, on off. Harshit Kaushik hangs back and dabs it back to the bowler.

14.6Fuller, on off, Asif Khan pushes it to mid off.

14.6Wide! Down the leg side, Asif Khan looks to flick it but misses.

14.5Short, on off, Asif Khan looks to block it but edges it to the fielder at point. A stifled appeal but turned down.

14.4Fuller, down leg, Harshit Kaushik flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

14.3OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust and United Arab Emirates in a spot of bother now, just gifting wickets away! Fuller, on off, Rahul Chopra looks to slog it behind cow corner, but mistimes his stroke. The ball goes high in the air towards long on. Rahmanullah Gurbaz moves to his right and takes a sharp running catch. Rahul Chopra departs on 7 (9) and United Arab Emirates' innings have started to nosedive. They are 113/4, needing 58 runs off 33 balls.

14.2Full, on off, Rahul Chopra pushes it to mid off.

14.1Turn and bounce, outside off, Rahul Chopra looks to play at it but misses.

13.6Short and wide, Asif Khan looks to cut it but misses.

13.5Fuller, attacking the stumps, Asif Khan blocks it to the right of the bowler.

13.4Quicker, on leg, Rahul Chopra flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

13.3Down the leg side, Asif Khan looks to flick it but the ball hits his pads and rolls towards short fine. They collect a leg bye.

13.2Fuller, on leg, Asif Khan flicks it with soft hands towards backward square leg for two more.

13.1A low full toss, on leg, Asif Khan flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace.

12.6Too full, on off, Rahul Chopra leans on and blocks it to mid off.

12.5Quicker, on leg, Asif Khan flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

12.4Sharp spin and bounce, outside off, Asif Khan looks to block it but gets beaten.

12.3OUT! TAKEN! Sharafuddin Ashraf gets his first wicket of the match and continues to deliver for his side! Flatter, on middle and leg, Muhammad Zohaib looks to loft it but the ball hits the upper part of his bat. It carries only as far as long on. Ibrahim Zadran keeps his composure near the fence and takes a good catch. Muhammad Zohaib departs for 23 (19) and another UAE batter departs after getting a good start. From 85/1, the hosts have slipped down to 106/3 now, needing 65 runs off 45 balls.

12.2Much fuller, on off, Rahul Chopra pushes it to cover. The misfield allows the batters to collect a single.

12.1Slower one, on off, Muhammad Zohaib taps it to backward point for a quick single.

11.6FOUR! Finds the gap perfectly! On a length, outside off, Rahul Chopra hangs back and steers it magnificently through backward point for a boundary.

11.5Full, on off, Muhammad Zohaib pushes it to point for one. This is good batting. A boundary followed by a single. The 100 is up for United Arab Emirates! They need 71 runs to win off 49 balls.

11.4FOUR! Muhammad Zohaib is leading the charge now! Length, on off, Muhammad Zohaib winds up and plunders it over mid off for a one-bounce boundary.

11.3Much fuller, on off, Muhammad Zohaib pushes it to cover.

11.2Length, on off, Muhammad Zohaib looks to loft it but edges it to deep backward point for a brace.

11.1SIX! In the zone and that has been dismissed! Gulbadin Naib serves it in the slot, outside off, Muhammad Zohaib lofts it all the way over long off for a biggie.

10.6Short and wide, Rahul Chopra leaves it alone.

10.5Short, on middle and leg, Muhammad Zohaib pulls it to mid-wicket for one.

10.4Length, on off, Rahul Chopra pushes it to cover for one.

10.3OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Abdullah Ahmadzai strikes! Back of a length, outside off, Muhammad Waseem looks to slap it but gets a slight edge. The ball carries behind the sticks and Mohammad Ishaq completes the catch. Once again, UAE lose their skipper Waseem at a crucial time. He departs for a well-made 44 off just 29 balls. United Arab Emirates are 85/2, needing 86 runs to win from 57 balls. The game still seems evenly poised!

10.2SIX! That should have been taken! Short again, outside off, Muhammad Waseem looks to slap it but gets a thick edge. The ball carries towards deep backward point. Karim Janat settles near the fence but spills the catch as the ball goes for a six.

10.1Short and wide, Muhammad Waseem looks to play an upper cut but misses.

9.6A big appeal for LBW, but not entertained by the umpire. Keeps it very tight, does Noor. Bowls it into the line of the stumps and it is another googly that skids and spins back in quickly. Muhammad Zohaib goes back inside the crease hurriedly to block but misses and wears high on the thigh pad. Height seems to be the issue here. Halfway into the chase, United Arab Emirates are 79/1, needing 92 runs to win off 60 balls.

9.5A bit too full and outside off. Muhammad Zohaib carves it out to cover.

9.4Leg break, outside off, and full in length. Zohaib leaves.

9.3Flat and quick, outside off, Waseem plays it very late off the back foot and with soft hands, cuts it to the left of short third for a single.

9.2Another wrong' un onto the pads, Zohaib nudges it to deep square leg for a single.

9.1Another googly dished out, on a yard behind fuller length. Zohaib rocks back and tries to whip that across the line, but plays all over it and it struck on the front thigh pad. A muted appeal for LBW, but that is going miles down leg.

9.1WIDE! Sprayed down leg, on a length, a googly by the looks of it. Left alone. Wide called.

8.6Length-delivery, just around the off pole. Zohaib plays from the crease and looks to tap it into the cover region, but gets a thick inside edge onto the back thigh pad. The ball rolls towards cover-point and they pinch in a quick single. 7 off Abdullah Ahmadzai's first over in his T20I career.

8.5Sharp bumper from Abdullah, on the leg stump line. Muhammad Waseem is a bit hurried into the shot, but controls the pull shot to deep square leg for a single.

8.4Length ball, around off, knocked into the cover region for a single.

8.3JAFFA! Some serious pace on that one. Hard length, deviating away with the angle, just in the channel of off, Zohaib hangs his bat away from the body, without any footwork. Plays the initial line and gets beaten past the outside edge.

8.2FOUR! Excellent shot! Short of a good length, nipping away off the deck. Muhammad Zohaib hangs back and cuts it over backward point for a cracking boundary.

8.1A slingy delivery, from over the stumps. On a length, on the stumps, Zohaib watchfully stabs it down the pitch.

7.6Wide outside off, on a length, Waseem throws the kitchen-sink at it and tries to slash that away through point, but gets an underedge and the ball runs behind, a bit finer to deep third and they get a couple of runs. A successful over from Noor. 10 off it, but a big wicket of Alishan Sharafu as well.

7.5Length ball and a leg break by the looks of it. Zohaib works it towards mid on for a single.

7.5WIDE! Down the leg side, left alone. Wide called.

7.4OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad draws first blood and breaks the 65-run opening stand. Brave bowling actually from Ahmad as this is dished straight and full, on middle. Alishan Sharafu creates room for himself and tries to clear long off, but gets the timing incorrect and this is sailed straight down the throat of Rahmanullah Gurbaz at long off. Alishan Sharafu departs for 27 (23) and United Arab Emirates are 65/1, needing 106 runs to win!

7.4WIDE! A googly, miles outside off, trying to keep it away from the batter's reach. Sharafu lets it be. Wide called.

7.3FOUR! Through the gap this time! A googly from Noor, on a length, on middle. Alishan Sharafu is quick to read the wrong' un from the wrist and rocks back before punching it away through cover for a boundary.

7.2Touch full and sliding outside off, Alishan cracks the cover drive, but finds the fielder.

7.1Flat and quick, outside off, worked wide of short third for a single.

6.6Floated up, full and around off, gently driven through mid off for a single. Another quiet over from Sharafuddin Ashraf, just 5 off it. His figures read 2-0-7-0 so far.

6.5A low in-drifting full toss, on middle and leg, clipped along the ground to wide deep square leg for a single.

6.4BEAUTY! Drifts in and around off, on a fullish length. Lands and then prodigiously turns away from the right-hander. Alishan Sharafu lunges forward to work it through covers, but plays inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge. Good grip on that one.

6.3Closer to the off pole, on a length, Waseem deliberately plays the late cut between short third and backward point for a quick single.

6.2Tossed up, on a length, on off, Alishan powers it to cover for a single.

6.1Shortish delivery, spinning away from off, Waseem cuts it to the off side, in front of square for one.

5.6Length ball, around off, glided behind to the left of short third for a quick run. United Arab Emirates end their Powerplay at 54/0.

5.5FOUR! Easily done! Short and around off, Muhammad Waseem gets the ball at a comfortable height. He waits, leans back and ramps it over short third for a boundary. FIFTY UP FOR UAE!

5.4Targets the pads, does Omarzai, on a hard length. Alishan misses to glance off the pads, and the ball rolls off the thigh pad to square leg for a leg bye.

5.3FOUR! Deliberately played! Short of a length, on top of off. Alishan Sharafu backs away and tries to cut it square on the off side, but opens the bat face late and the ball goes off the outside edge, over short third for a boundary. Nice adjustment there by Sharafu.

5.2Hard length, on the stumps, Waseem hangs back and nudges it with soft hands to mid-wicket for a quick single.

5.1In the line of the stumps, on a length, Waseem presses forward and blocks it watchfully.

4.6Fuller and tossed on off, Alishan Sharafu leans forward and pushes it to mid off. Tidy stuff from Sharafuddin. Just two off his first over.

4.5A mild appeal for LBW, but not given! This one comes straight on with the arm, on a fuller length, around the leg stump line. Alishan plays for the initial line and tries to push it away, but the ball drifts in a touch and beats the inside edge to thud on the front pad. Probably doing a bit too much to slide down leg.

4.4Sharp turn and bounce away from off, on a length. Alishan rocks back to cut away, but the extra spin does him in. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

4.3Nice and full, on off, pushed off the front foot to short cover.

4.2Spins away from middle, on a fullish length. Waseem backs away to drive inside out through covers, but only gets an outside edge that runs behind to short third.

4.1Pitched full and around off, driven along the turf to long off for an easy single.

3.6Full and down the leg stump, Sharafu tickles it to the right of short fine leg, where Janat makes a half-stop and parries the ball to his right, allowing the batters to cross over. A single to end the over, 8 off Mujeeb's second.

3.5Full and drifting on middle and leg, clipped to deep mid-wicket for a single.

3.4FOUR! Powered away! Waseem moves into his 20s! Short and outside off. Muhammad Waseem rocks back, picks the length and blasts that through the mid off and cover for a boundary.

3.3Follows the batter, does Mujeeb and slides it onto the leg stump line. Alishan backs away to cut, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls through backward square leg for a one.

3.2On a length, and this is tucked to mid-wicket for a single.

3.1Carrom ball that grips and bounces with some away turn, on top of off. Alishan Sharafu is beaten all ends up as he doesn't pick that at all. Gets beaten on the outside edge. That must have woken him up!

2.6Hits the deck hard, outside off, Waseem waits back and dabs it to the left of backward point for a quick single. 16 off the over, 26 from the last two for UAE!

2.5SIX! Geez, that is some authoritative shot! Serves a half volley, on the stumps, does Ahmad. Waseem picks the length in a trice and hoists it over the bowler for a massive six. This has been a very positive start for the hosts, yet again inside the Powerplay!

2.4BEATEN! This one slants across the batter, full in length, inviting the batter to play at it. Waseem pushes hard at it, but the ball nibbles away and beats the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

2.3Back of a length, tailing back in a touch, on off, Alishan Sharafu stays deep in the crease and cuts it to deep backward point where the ball is cut off by Azmatullah Omarzai to his left. One taken.

2.2SIX! Effortlessly done! Outside leg, on a length. Alishan Sharafu brings his wrists to play and just whips it nonchalantly over deep backward square leg for a six.

2.1Hard length, just outside off, Alishan Sharafu cuts it square to deep point for a brace.

1.6Length, on the stumps, worked to short third.

1.5Slides onto the pads, on a length. It is that leg break from Mujeeb that skids through. Alishan Sharafu shapes to pull, but the ball beats the bat and pops towards square leg. The keeper runs to his left and collects but fails to stop the batters from pinching a leg bye.

1.4Length, on middle and leg, tucked off the back foot to wide mid on for a single.

1.3Pulls the length slightly, drifting on the pads. Waseem turns it to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

1.2SIX! That has traveled a fair distance! First biggie of the chase! Full and on middle, Muhammad Waseem makes room by shuffling on the leg side, and lofts it inside out over deep extra cover for a cracking six.

1.1Pushed through, full and on off, Waseem leans on and drives it to mid off.

0.6Back of a length, outside off, tapped away to point. 7 off the first over then!

0.5Outside off, on a good length. Alishan Sharafu goes fishing and misses to connect as the ball swings away late.

0.4Short and outside off, worked wide of cover for a single.

0.4WIDE! Tries to keep it away from the arc, does Fareed, but hurls it miles outside the tramline. Waseem tries to carve it out, but fails to lay bat on ball. Wide called anyway.

0.3Wide on off, on a fullish length. Muhammad Waseem stretches his hands towards the ball, but misses to slash it away.

0.2Hard length, on the leg stump, Alishan Sharafu plays from the crease, and taps it across in thereabouts of mid-wicket for a single.

0.1FOUR! A loosener to start with from Fareed! Tails in from the leg stump, on a length. Alishan Sharafu just uses the pace, tickles it fine, between the keeper and short fine leg for a boundary.