Afghanistan hold their nerve and UAE got so close, yet so far. This will pinch them....agonizing defeat. They almost got over the line and Asif is crestfallen, shake of the head. Lots of emotions on display. On a length just outside off, he had to go and tried to bully it downtown and got plenty of elevation but just not enough distance. Incredible game of cricket that kept us on the edge of our seats! UAE should be very proud of their effort, they have improved substantially throughout this tri series
U.A.E. vs Afghanistan, 6th Match at Sharjah, UAE Tri-Series, Sep 05 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
6th Match (N), Sharjah, September 05, 2025, United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series
New
UAE
Full commentary
end of over 2012 runs • 1 wicket
UAE: 166/5CRR: 8.30
Harshit Kaushik15 (12b 1x4 1x6)
Fareed Ahmad 3-0-35-1
Sharafuddin Ashraf 4-0-20-1
What a fantastic final match of the group stage and I got my wish: it went down to the final over! The tension was high, with both teams refusing to give an inch. Eventually, Afghanistan held their nerve and their spinners managed to bring the innings to a near standstill during the middle overs which caused the asking rate to balloon. But this defeat will sting for UAE, as they had a real chance to cross the line. It came down to fine margins. Asif Khan raced to 40 off 28 balls but had too much to do in the final over. Perhaps he could have trusted his batting partner to share the load--though it's easy to nitpick in hindsight. After all, he was the one who navigated through choppy waters and brought UAE to a commanding position. Earlier, Gurbaz and Zadran laid the foundation for a par score, with decent contributions from the lower order helping Afghanistan post a competitive total. The spinners from both sides were on top of their game. That's all from this enthralling contest. We'll see you on Sunday for the final between Pakistan and Afghanistan. For now, it's goodbye and goodnight from me, Rvel Zahid, and my scoring partner Sudeep Poojar.
Muhammad Wasim, UAE Captain: It was a good game, tough luck for us. As I said at the toss, we're going close to the line but not crossing it. We'll take all the positives from this series and, inshallah, apply them in the Asia Cup. Haider Ali is actually bowling well. He's a good bowler with experience and I believe he can do even better in the Asia Cup. We'll keep learning, especially in areas like death bowling and fielding.
Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan Captain: It was a good win to finish the group stage. We wanted to give a chance to the guys who didn't get one in the previous game. UAE were playing well and looked like they might win but credit to our bowlers for (pulling it back). When you look at the conditions, you have to take responsibility and back your skills. I just go out there, enjoy myself, and give my 100 percent Thankfully, I got the result today. It's been a good series. Now we're set to play Pakistan. We'll prepare for the Asia Cup and go in with high energy and intensity.
Ashish: "8 on 10 times when a batter thinks they can get away without running, they rue it in the end. The 2 dots cost UAE dearly!"
Samimullah: "And that is that, what a comeback from Malik three dots on the trot."
Hans: "Lack of experience cost the UAE team a must-win match to lose. Extras in the bowling inning, too many dot balls, less strike rotation, and fewer 2s "
Manoj: "Why cant you run a bye man? This is stupid !!"
Zahir Habibi : "Ooh Farid, you are my nightmare "
usman: "in my opinion in sstead of playing bilateral series.. top teams should play tri series with 1 associate team... it ll help game grow"
19.6
W
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, OUT
Asif Khan c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Fareed Ahmad 40 (28b 4x4 2x6 39m) SR: 142.85
19.5
•
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, no run
Keeping his calm, wide of the crease and bowls it full from wide of off, reaches out to flay a cut and gets beaten on the outside edge. 4 or 6
19.4
•
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, no run
Came in a touch, wide yorker speared from around the wicket, appealing for a caught. behind, umpire is not interested. Just hit the turf, non-striker was out of his crease, Asif wasn't interested. Tension is palpable!
19.3
2
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, 2 runs
Bowls full and offers width, sliced away to deep backward point and struggling to complete the second, aging warrior does well enough to make his ground, throw not quite spot on. He is catching up on his breath, taking his time to recover, he ran one short, touch and go actually, toe-end is slightly over the popping crease so it's not been adjudged short run
19.2
6
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, SIX runs
deep point comes into the 30 yard ring, deep backward square taken. Shorter in length and meandering outside off, what an INCREDIBLE shot! Plants front leg and he belts it over sweeper cover for a flat six! UAE have a great shot at winning this contest, Waseem liked it
19.1
4
Fareed Ahmad to Asif Khan, FOUR runs
over the wicket, pace on fuller delivery with some width, throws his hands at it and gets a four as third man gives up the chase, wide yorker attempted, perfect start for UAE
Stiff task, something around 12 would have been do-able but I feel UAE have left too many runs for the last six deliveries
end of over 1910 runs
UAE: 154/4CRR: 8.10 • RRR: 17.00 • Need 17 runs from 6b
Harshit Kaushik15 (12b 1x4 1x6)
Asif Khan28 (22b 3x4 1x6)
Sharafuddin Ashraf 4-0-20-1
Abdollah Ahmadzai 3-0-31-1
Mustafa Moudi : "UAE batted brilliantly throughout the innings but 4 overs from 13 to 16 merely 16 Runs and match seems to be slipping away from them now. The lack of experience making a difference here !!"
Zahir Habibi : "The game turns out to be a nail biting. "
Yushey Al Tusi : "Oh no ! Looks like Asif Khan's reading the comments on CricInfo."
18.6
•
Sharafuddin to Kaushik, no run
around and tossed full on off, shuffles across and forces it back to the bowler, crucial dot
18.5
4
Sharafuddin to Kaushik, FOUR runs
need a six but they get a four! Bowler is fuming as the fielder at deep fine leg drops an absolute soda, the debutant with a casual attempt, this keeps UAE still in the game, was a length ball turning towards his body
18.4
1
Sharafuddin to Asif Khan, 1 run
good length and attacks middle, goes full-throttle and gets under-edge to short third, settles for a run
18.3
4
Sharafuddin to Asif Khan, FOUR runs
around the wicket, floated outside off and he picks it early and pans it to the rope, leathering it downtown as the fielder at long-off runs over after the ball crashed onto the advertising hoardings
18.2
•
Sharafuddin to Asif Khan, no run
make or break over that will decide the outcome. Short of a length and just outside off, tries to send it to the Moon and misses it! Appeal for a caught behind and the umpire wants to consult third umpire. This could be a massive moment, did he get a deflection? He lost his shape a touch when trying to boom a pull, his foot remain planted all the way so not a stumping. It wasn't an appeal for caught behind (I correct myself). Asif did well to keep his right leg on the crease, some part of the toe is behind the line so he will get decision in his favor. NOT OUT on the big screen, sigh of relief for UAE players and the coach, fist bump between the batters
Hans: "UAE still has an opportunity to win this match as the remaining two of the remaining three overs will be bowled by a debutant and one by any of the other expensive players of this match. " exactly
18.1
1
Sharafuddin to Kaushik, 1 run
around thr wicket, short of a length and turns in at middle, pulled to deep square leg
end of over 1816 runs
UAE: 144/4CRR: 8.00 • RRR: 13.50 • Need 27 runs from 12b
Asif Khan23 (19b 2x4 1x6)
Harshit Kaushik10 (9b 1x6)
Abdollah Ahmadzai 3-0-31-1
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-27-1
17.6
•
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, no run
That's a good change of tactics! Spears a following yorker and he is unable to connect, precious dot but a good over for UAE - they believe
17.5
4
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, FOUR runs
Hits a short length again and tries to cramp him for room, he remains cool and composed, loves pace on ball as I said earlier, smacked past backward square for a four
17.4
6
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, SIX runs
Pace-off shorter ball on middle, waited a touch, picked the slowness of the delivery and he continues in his bullheaded way, clubbed over midwicket for a 6
17.3
•
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, no run
Will I get my wish? Is it going right down to the wire? He bangs in short on middle, gets his bonce away from the line
17.2
2
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, 2 runs
Good length and arcing in at middle, tonked back over his head towards long-on, intercepted inches inside the rope, rushes back for the second
17.1
4
Abdollah Ahmadzai to Asif Khan, FOUR runs
over the wicket, bowls a full-toss and follows his teeny-tiny leg-side shimmy, hits it with panache into the gap at midwicket. Perfect start to the over as far as UAE are concerned, everybody applauds in the dugout
end of over 178 runs
UAE: 128/4CRR: 7.52 • RRR: 14.33 • Need 43 runs from 18b
Harshit Kaushik10 (9b 1x6)
Asif Khan7 (13b)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-27-1
Noor Ahmad 4-0-23-1
Galib: "Looks like UAE's batting is nothing without Wasim. These two are not even trying to chase it. "
Manoj: "Last 4 strokes of Asif khan were like playing in a test game. Just wow !!"
16.6
•
Mujeeb to Kaushik, no run
around the wicket, fraction short and veering in at off, early through the attempted hoik to the leg side, copped on the body
16.5
1
Mujeeb to Asif Khan, 1 run
good length and wide of off, gets the width and toe-ends it over the bowler's head, surviving but not dominating, he likes pace on ball
Language
English
Win Probability
AFG 100%
AFGUAE100%50%100%
Over 20 • UAE 166/5
Asif Khan c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Fareed Ahmad 40 (28b 4x4 2x6 39m) SR: 142.85
Afghanistan won by 4 runsW
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