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In Group D encounter at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Afghanistan secured a nail-biting five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. The hero of the day was undoubtedly Azmatullah Omarzai, whose masterclass with both ball and bat rescued Afghanistan from the brink of an upset, keeping their momentum alive in the tournament.
The match, which featured shifting momentum and DRS drama, saw Afghanistan chase down a target of 161 with just four balls to spare. While the UAE displayed remarkable grit, they ultimately could not contain the clinical finishing of an Afghan side led by Omarzai’s calm under pressure.
Azmatullah Omarzai rips through UAE with clinical four-wicket haul
Opting to bowl first, Afghanistan’s pace spearhead Omarzai set the tone from the very first over. After an early unsuccessful review for an LBW, Omarzai didn’t have to wait long for his reward, dismissing Aryansh Sharma for a duck just four balls into the innings. Despite a counter-attacking 68 from Sohaib Khan and a steady 40 from Alishan Sharafu, the UAE found it impossible to break free from Omarzai’s suffocating lines.
Omarzai returned in the death overs to dismantle the middle order. He claimed the crucial wickets of Syed Haider and Harshit Kaushik in the 15th over, a double-strike that halted the UAE’s charge toward a 180-plus total. His final figures of 4 for 15 in four overs, maintaining an incredible economy of 3.75, were the backbone of the Afghan bowling effort. Despite late-inning run-outs and a flurry of activity, the UAE finished at 160/9, a competitive but manageable total.
Omarzai powers Afghanistan’s chase against UAE in T20 World Cup 2026 thriller
The chase began in disastrous fashion for Afghanistan. Junaid Siddique removed the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the first over, sending shockwaves through the Afghan dugout. Ibrahim Zadran played a steadying hand, anchoring the innings with a gritty 53 off 41 balls, but the UAE bowlers, led by Muhammad Arfan (2/30), kept the pressure high by picking up wickets at regular intervals.
When Zadran fell in the 14th over with the score at 97/4, the match hung in the balance. Stepping in at a critical juncture, Omarzai once again took center stage. Displaying aggressive intent, Omarzai smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 21 deliveries, including three towering sixes that shifted the pressure back onto the UAE.
Alongside the veteran Mohammad Nabi, Omarzai orchestrated a calculated finish. Needing 11 runs off the final over, Omarzai’s composure ensured Afghanistan reached 162/5 with four balls remaining.
A solid chase by Afghanistan 👏#AFGvsUAE #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/FNSqL95L46
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026
Omarzai’s strike rate of 190.47 provided the necessary firepower to compliment his earlier bowling exploits, earning him a well-deserved Player of the Match performance and cementing Afghanistan’s dominance in Group D.
The ultimate match-winner, Azmatullah Omarzai 🔹🥇#AFGvsUAE #AzmatullahOmarzai #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/21989qb9Rk
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026
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