Faheem Ashraf Achieves Career-Best Bowling Performance with 4/27 in T20Is

SHARJAH: In the fourth match of the T20I tri-series held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Faheem Ashraf’s impressive four-wicket performance helped Pakistan restrict Afghanistan to a reasonable score.

After electing to bat, Afghanistan managed to score 169/5 in their 20 overs, largely due to a significant second-wicket partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal.

Afghanistan’s innings began uncertainly when Saim Ayub removed the aggressive opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz (eight) in the second over, with the score at just 10.

Following this initial setback, Zadran was joined by Atal, and together they added 113 runs for the second wicket.

The substantial partnership was broken in the 16th over by Faheem Ashraf, who caught Atal at long-on. The left-handed opener hit three boundaries and three sixes, scoring 64 from 45 balls.

Faheem then claimed two additional wickets in subsequent overs, dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai and the well-set Zadran, which reduced Afghanistan’s score to 146/4 in 17.5 overs.

Zadran was the highest scorer for Afghanistan, scoring 65 off 45 deliveries, which included eight fours and one six.

The right-arm fast bowler concluded his impressive spell by dismissing veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi (six) in the final over, achieving his career-best figures of 4/27.

Captain Rashid Khan and all-rounder Karim Janat remained not out with eight runs each.

Aside from Faheem, Saim Ayub was the only other wicket-taker for Pakistan, securing one wicket for 18 runs in his four overs.