Afghanistan defeats UAE thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s maiden T20I century

Rahmanullah Gurbaz shook the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday night with his maiden T20I century.

He was named ‘Player of the Match’ after his century against UAE in Sharjah. Gurbaz scored 100 runs to assist his team register 203 for 3 against UAE in the first innings. Afghanistan won the match by 72 runs after bowling out the hosts for 131 runs.

Afghanistan now leads the three-match T20I series against the UAE 1-0.

The small southpaw hit seven sixes and an equal amount of fours in a magnificent innings of precisely 100 runs from 52 balls, leading Afghanistan to a 72-run victory against the UAE in the first of three bilateral series.

Gurbaz hit his half-century in just 24 balls, including a six off bowler Ali Naseer that landed beyond the stadium. He increased his tally to 100 by smashing seamer Junaid Seddique for a six over the same region.

Basil Hameed, who timed his jump precisely to take the ball out of the air with his right hand only inches away from the boundary rope, ultimately dismissed him.

After winning the toss, the UAE chose to field first, but their decision backfired as the hosts’ bowling attack failed to contain Afghanistan’s run rate in Sharjah. Afghan opener Hazratullah Zazai (13 runs from 16 balls) failed to score, while Gurbaz (100 runs from 52 balls) shone against the UAE bowling attack to help Afghanistan record 203/3. Ibrahim Zadran (59 runs off 43 balls) also contributed significantly by forming a good connection with Gurbaz.

Chasing a difficult total, UAE lost Khalid Shah in the opening over. Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was reinstated to Afghanistan’s team along with Naveen-ul-Haq earlier this week after being sanctioned by the ACB for expressing a wish to be put off the central contracts list for 2024, bowled Khalid and Samal Udawaththa in the fifth over.

In the meanwhile, Naveen dismissed Muhammad Waseem, and Qais Ahmad took the fourth wicket, leaving UAE needing another 148 runs in the final 10 overs. Vriitya Aravind battled back with 70 not out, but his performance merely helped the home team narrow the margin of loss.

“I feel really excited. I dreamt of a hundred in a T20I so I’m excited. My plan was to give strike to Hazratullah and whenever I got a loose ball, my plan was to be in as wicket was not easy. The crowd supports us everywhere, they support both teams and that is the amazing thing. Thanks to them and I hope they come for the next game. I have played good knocks but in T20s I can say this one is a special one,” said Gurbaz post winning the match.

Team Scores:

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz 100(52), Ibrahim Zadran 59(43), Aznatullah Omarzai 19*(8); Aayan Afzal Khan 1/26, Muhammad Jawad Ullah 1/36, Junaid Siddique 1/42.

UAE: Vritya Aravind 70*(64), Tanish Suri 20* (25), Basil Hameed 18(14); Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/19, Naveen-ul-Haq 1/25, Qais Ahmad 1/28.