SHARJAH: Opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s sensible 44-run knock helped Afghanistan to edge Pakistan in the second T20I to complete the series victory with one match to spare.
Set to chase 131, Afghanistan accumulated 133/3 with a ball to spare, thanks to Gurbaz’s 44.
Earlier, Afghanistan openers Gurbaz and Usman Ghani (seven off nine) scripted a flying start to the run chase and raised 30 runs inside the first four overs before Zaman Khan castled the latter.
Following the early setback, Gurbaz stitched a match-defining partnership with Ibrahim Zadran and anchored the run chase.
The pair added 56 runs amid their vital second-wicket stand before a direct hit from Naseem Shah brought an end to Gurbaz’s innings, who top-scored for Afghanistan with 44 off 49 deliveries, laced up with two boundaries and a six.
Ibrahim then put on a brief partnership with Najibullah Zadran and took Afghanistan past the 100-run mark before Ihsanullah dismissed the former. He scored a 40-ball 38 and smashed three boundaries.
Afghanistan’s last match hero Mohammad Nabi then joined Ibrahim in the middle and once again played a crucial knock for his side in a tense run chase.
Pakistan bowlers, despite not taking enough wickets, held Afghanistan to 109/3 in 18 overs. However, a sloppy 19th over by Naseem, put Afghanistan in command as the right-arm pacer leaked 17 runs, leaving just five runs behind.
Pakistan skipper Shadab Khan then brought Zaman Khan to defend a mere five runs in the final over but Ibrahim and Nabi held their nerves calm to power their side over the line with a ball to spare.
Ibrahim scored a 12-ball 23 not out, hitting two boundaries and a six, while Nabi remained unbeaten with 14 off just nine deliveries, smashing a six.
For Pakistan, only Ihsanullah and Zaman could pick up a wicket while the rest went wicketless.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan were off to a poor start to their innings as the green shirts lost two wickets in the first over as opener Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique bagged ducks.
With a frustrating first over, young hard-hitting batter Mohammad Haris looked to counter-attack in the second over as he took Azmatullah Omarzai to the cleaners.
Haris appeared to have found the rhythm but Naveen-ul-Haq got him caught behind in the fourth over to draw the third success for Afghanistan. He could score 15 off nine deliveries with the help of two boundaries and a six.
With Pakistan reeling at 20/3 in the fourth over, experienced all-rounder Imad joined young Tayyab Tahir in the middle and stitched a fighting 40-run partnership.
Imad led the fightback amid his fourth-wicket stand with Tahir before the latter fell victim to Karim Jannat after a cautious 23-ball 13.
Pakistan then jolted with another setback in the next over as Rashid Khan trapped Azam Khan (1) in his legs and forced Pakistan to slip to 63/5 in 11 overs.
With his side in all sorts of trouble, skipper Shadab Khan came out to bat and stitched a match-saving partnership with Imad.
The pair soaked the pressure put on by Afghanistan bowlers and kept the scoreboard ticking before Shadab perished on the final delivery of the innings.
Imad top-scored for Pakistan with a gritty half-century, scoring 64 off 57 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and two sixes, while Shadab scored a 25-ball 32, laced up with three boundaries.
Fazalhaq Farooqi led the bowling attack for Afghanistan with 2/19 while Rashid, Naveen and Karim picked up a wicket each.
