SHARJAH: In the opening match of the Tri-Nation T20 series, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 39 runs.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a total of 182/7. Captain Salman Ali Agha played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 53 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Nawaz contributed 21 runs each, and Fakhar Zaman added 20 runs.
Chasing a target of 183, Afghanistan’s top-order started confidently, reaching 93 runs for 2 wickets, but the innings collapsed as 5 wickets fell for just 4 runs. Rashid Khan top-scored for Afghanistan with 39 runs, but the team was bowled out for 143.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets, while Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem claimed 2 wickets each.
Salman Ali Agha was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
The victory gives Pakistan an early advantage in the tri-nation series, boosting team morale ahead of the next encounters. Strong performances from both the batting and bowling departments highlight Pakistan’s readiness to compete for the series title.
