Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan beat UAE by 5 wickets to clinch first win

Noor Ahmad to Syed Haider, SIX! Noor Ahmad's ordinary run in this tournament continues. Noor looks to drag the length back but bowls it well short and the ball just sits up for the batter. Syed Haider has all the time to rock back and he muscles it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie to close out the over. 9 off it and Noor has now gone for 35 runs in 3 overs, without getting a wicket as well.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Fractionally short on leg, nurdled away to the left of short fine leg for one more by Khan.

Noor Ahmad to Syed Haider, Nice and full, darted into the stumps, Haider backs away and strokes it through extra cover for a run.

Noor Ahmad to Syed Haider, Flighted ball around leg, Haider moves past the leg stump and taps it into the off side.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Fuller and on leg again, Sohaib Khan sits down and swings it on the bounce to deep backward square leg for just a single.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Bowled flatter and around leg stump, Sohaib defends with a straight bat and plays it back to the bowler.

Noor Ahmad is back on. He has conceded 26 runs in his first couple of overs.

Rashid Khan to Syed Haider, A googly now, angled into the pads, Haider fails to flick it away.

Rashid Khan to Syed Haider, Quicker delivery, attacking the off stump, Haider stays back to defend.

Rashid Khan to Syed Haider, FOUR! Slightly fortuitous but UAE will take it. Tossed up on leg stump, Syed Haider sits down and looks to sweep but gets a top edge that goes between the keeper and short fine leg and rolls away into the fence behind.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, On the pads again, worked away past square leg for another single. The 100 is now up for the UAE.

Rashid Khan to Syed Haider, A bit more flighted from Rashid, around leg, worked away around the corner on the leg side for a single.

Rashid Khan to Syed Haider, Full and flat around off, Syed Haider jams it out into the off side.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Pushed through a bit quicker and fuller around off, Sohaib Khan lunges to defend. Just a run and a big wicket off it. Mujeeb Ur Rahman ends with figures of - 4-0-31-2.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Flighted ball, in and around off, Khan blocks it back to the bowler.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Flighted up on middle, Sohaib opts to block it off.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Syed Haider, Drifted into middle and leg, Haider clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Afghanistan break the big 84-run partnership. Syed Haider is the next man in.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, OUT! CAUGHT! Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes back and breaks the threatening stand. This is floated up on off and middle, slightly full as well. Alishan Sharafu backs away to open up the off side and goes through with the lofted shot but doesn't get the right connection. The ball sails down to long off, where Ibrahim Zadran is standing well inside the ropes and takes a couple of steps back to reverse-cup it with ease. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Mujeeb starts the final spell with a fullish delivery around off, Sharafu leans on and pushes it to extra cover.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Fuller and angled into the pads, Sharafu gets inside the line to sweep but misses. The ball goes off the pads to square leg for aother leg bye.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Half an appeal for LBW, nothing more. On a hard length and on off, jags back in a bit. Khan gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits him high on the pads before rolling to point. They pick up a leg bye.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Back of a length, just outside off, nudged down to the right of deep third for an easy single.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, That's carried through nicely. Good-length delivery, wide outside off, Sharafu reaches out to smash it over covers but the ball sails over the willow.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Back of a length and outside off, Khan gets on his toes and guides it through short third for a single.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Bowls a heavy short ball, over middle, Khan looks to pull but miscues it badly and back onto the pitch.

United Arab Emirates are in the ascendancy heading into the second half of the innings. 93/2 in 10 overs is an excellent platform to build on and the Afghans have their work cut out in the field. With that said, Ziaur Rahman is back on. He went for 16 in his first over.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Pushed through quicker, full and on leg, Sohaib Khan flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one more. 16 runs off the over!

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, SIX! Sohaib Khan's turn now. Noor Ahmad floats it up, full and on middle. Khan gets on his knee and slogs it flat and hard over the deep mid-wicket fence for the second six of the over.

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, Short again, on middle, Alishan Sharafu nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, Drags his length back, on middle, Alishan Sharafu punches it wide of long on and calls for two. His partner responds, and the throw comes in at the bowler's end. Khan puts in a dive in but Noor fails to collect the ball cleanly. 

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, SIX! That is a shot and a half! Tossed up, full and on off. Alishan Sharafu backs away early and goes down on one knee. He extends his arms to reach out and dispatches it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, Flighted, full and on middle, Alishan Sharafu knocks it to the right of the bowler.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Short and on middle, Sohaib Khan pats it to short extra cover.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Slows it up, full and on middle, Sohaib Khan turns it to the leg side.

Rashid Khan to Alishan Sharafu, Short again and around off, Alishan Sharafu punches it through extra cover for one more.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Flighted, full and on off, Sohaib Khan taps it to cover for one.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, The stumps become a fielder! Flatter, full and on middle, Sohaib Khan uses his feet and drills it down the pitch. It hits the stumps at the other end and rolls towards extra cover. A boundary saved.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Beauty! Flighted, full and on off, turns away just a bit. Sohaib Khan gets forward to block but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, Just short! Tossed up, full and on off, does not spin that much. Alishan Sharafu has a poke at it with soft hands. Gets an outside edge but it drops in front of first slip.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Fires one full and on middle and leg, Sohaib Khan works it through mid-wicket for one.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, EDGED AND FOUR MORE! A googly, full and on middle, turns away sharply. Sohaib Khan tries to play it from the crease but gets a thin outside edge just past first slip and the ball races to the third man fence for a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, FOUR! Poor delivery and gets the treatment! Noor Ahmad bowls this quicker, but serves this full and down the leg side, begging to be put away. Sohaib Khan goes down and swipes it away to the deep backawrd square leg fence for a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Alishan Sharafu, Flatter, full and around leg, Alishan Sharafu looks to clip it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads to the right of short fine. A leg bye taken.

Noor Ahmad to Sohaib Khan, Floated, full and on off, Sohaib Khan tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Two wrist spinners from both ends now as Noor Ahmad comes into the attack. Hang on, there is a halt in proceedings. It seems like the ball has gone out of shape after that last six from Alishan Sharafu and the fourth umpire is out with a box of balls. The on-field umpires select the one closest in wear and tear to the original ball and we can now continue.

Rashid Khan to Alishan Sharafu, SIX! BOOM! Alishan Sharafu does take Rashid Khan on. More air on this one, full and around middle. Sharafu gets down on one knee and nails the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Rashid Khan to Alishan Sharafu, Flighted delivery, full and on off, Alishan Sharafu defends it on the front foot.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Slower through the air, full and on middle and off, Sohaib Khan eases it to long off for one.

Rashid Khan to Alishan Sharafu, Flatter, full and on middle, Alishan Sharafu drills it down to long on for a run.