In the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan tour of UAE, Afghanistan emerged victorious, defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 72 runs. In the first innings, Afghanistan set a formidable target, posting 203/3 in 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a stellar knock, scoring 100 runs off 52 balls, supported by Ibrahim Zadran’s 59 runs off 43 balls. Aayan Khan and Muhammad Jawadullah took 1 wicket each for UAE.
Chasing the target, UAE struggled to build partnerships, finishing at 131/4 in 20 overs. Vriitya Aravind was the top scorer with 70 runs off 64 balls. Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq was effective, taking 1 wicket for 25 runs in 4 overs. Despite a late surge from Aravind, UAE fell short by 72 runs.
Vriitya Aravind’s innings included notable moments, including a fifty and impactful boundaries, but Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Fazalhaq Farooqi and Qais Ahmad, managed to control the game. Afghanistan’s comprehensive victory in the opening T20I sets the tone for the series, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling departments.