Twitter Reactions: Naveen-ul-Haq, composed batting lift Afghanistan to 2-1 series win

The first T20I in the three-match series between the UAE and Afghanistan turned out to be a one-sided contest. However, the next two games went down to the wire, with the Blue Tigers bagging the series 2-1.

The third T20I took place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, January 2. UAE won the toss and opted to bat first. Naveen-ul-Haq did the damage with the new ball as he started with two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the second over of the game.

At 15/2, UAE's hopes were pinned on their captain Muhammad Waseem. The big-hitting right-hander kept on losing partners at the other end as the hosts slipped to 38/4 in 5.4 overs. This was after 15 runs came off the first over from Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Waseem had to curb his attacking instincts and play according to the situation. His knock of 27 off 25 balls ended when he was stumped off the bowling of Qais Ahmed. UAE lost half their side with only 56 runs on the board and more than 11 overs to spare.

Basil Hameed and Aayan Khan got starts but couldn't capitalise. UAE were in dire straits at 75/7 in 12.5 overs. A much-needed partnership of 30 runs off 24 balls between Ali Naseer and Akif Raja took the home side beyond the 100-run mark. Jawadullah scored 13 off 11 balls in the end as UAE finished on 126/9 in 20 overs. Naveen was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/20 in four overs. Qais also bowled well for his three-for.

Afghanistan needed 127 on a surface where spinners were getting decent amount of assistance. Some balls were also keeping quite low. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to take the attack to the UAE bowlers inside the powerplay, and his blitzkrieg at the top helped the visitors add 30 runs inside the fourth over. The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed by Junaid Siddique after he played a fine cameo of 20 off 14 balls.

Hazratullah Zazai and Afghan captain Ibrahim Zadran tried to take the match deep. They didn't take undue risks as the required run-rate was well within their control. After adding 37 runs off 43 balls, the second-wicket partnership ended when Zadran was dismissed by Naseer for a 30-ball 23. UAE exerted pressure with some tight bowling and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. Afghanistan lost four wickets for 18 runs and were placed in a tricky situation at 103/6, requiring 24 runs off 19 balls.

Najibullah Zadran was standing in the way of a memorable series win for the UAE. The southpaw didn't let the pressure get to him as he hit a flurry of boundaries to take the tourists on the brink. In the 19th over, he hit two consecutive sixes of Siddique as Afghanistan won by four wickets with nine balls to spare. Najibullah remained unbeaten on 28 off just 13 balls.

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