in Group D match ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, afghanistan achieved a thrilling victory by five wickets United Arab Emirates (UAE) At Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. The hero of the day was undoubtedly Azmatullah OmarzaiWhose masterclass with both ball and bat saved Afghanistan from the brink of upset and maintained their momentum in the tournament.
The match, which included changing tempo and DRS drama, saw Afghanistan chase the target of 161 with only four balls remaining. While the UAE displayed remarkable composure, ultimately they could not prevent a clinical finish by Umarzai’s calm-led Afghan team under pressure.
Azmatullah Umarzai devastated UAE by taking four wickets
Opting to bowl first, Afghanistan pacer Omarzai set the tone from the very first over. After an initial failed review for LBW, Umarzai did not have to wait long for his reward, being given out Aryansh Sharma Only four balls on zero in the innings. 68 runs despite counter attack soheb khan and a steady 40 Alishan SharafuThe UAE found it impossible to break free from Omarzai’s stifling lines.
Umarzai made a comeback to demolish the middle order in the death overs. he took important wickets Syed Haider And Harshit Kaushik In the 15th over, a double-strike restricted UAE’s score to over 180. His final figures of 4 for 15 from four overs, while maintaining an incredible economy of 3.75, were the backbone of the Afghan bowling effort. Despite a late innings run-out and a flurry of activity, UAE finished on 160/9, a competitive but manageable total.
Umarzai helps Afghanistan chase the target against UAE in a thrilling match of T20 World Cup 2026
The chase started disastrously for Afghanistan. Junaid Siddiqui removed dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz For a duck in the first over, it sent shock waves through the Afghan dugout. ibrahim zadran Played a steady hand, leading the innings with 53 runs off 41 balls, but was led by the UAE bowlers. muhammad arfan (2/30), kept up the pressure by taking wickets at regular intervals.
When Zadran’s score was 97/4 in the 14th over, the match hung in the balance. Stepping into a critical juncture, Umarzai once again took center stage. Showing aggressive intent, Umarzai scored an unbeaten 40 off just 21 balls, including three sky-scraping sixes, putting the pressure back on UAE.
with experienced mohammad nabiOmarzai organized a calculated finish. With 11 runs needed in the final over, Omarzai’s patience ensured Afghanistan reached 162/5 with four balls remaining.
A solid chase by Afghanistan👏#AFGvsUAE #T20WorldCup2026 #crickettwitter pic.twitter.com/FNSqL95L46
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 16 February 2026
Umarzai’s strike rate of 190.47 provided the firepower needed to compliment his earlier bowling exploits, earning him a deserved player of the match performance and cementing Afghanistan’s dominance in Group D.
Ultimate Match Winner, Azmatullah Umarzai 🔹🥇#AFGvsUAE #AzmatullahUmarzai #T20WorldCup2026 #crickettwitter pic.twitter.com/21989qb9Rk
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 16 February 2026
