Rashid, Nabi help Afghanistan sweep series

DUBAI: Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan picked up six wickets between them to snuff out United Arab Emirates’ challenge of a 190 chase. Afghanistan won by 44 runs to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Dubai on Sunday.

Rohan Mustafa and Shaiman Anwar’s second-wicket stand of 86 off just 51 balls helped UAE nudge ahead of the asking rate and set themselves up for a win. But the wickets of Anwar and Muhammad Usman in the space of four deliveries upped the asking rate and eventually led to a clutch of wickets.

Nabi, the offspinner, was among the wickets for the first time in the series. He finished with 3 for 30, while Rashid, the legspinner, who scythed through the lower order, finished with 3 for 14 to take his wickets tally in the series to six. UAE didn’t have anyone to build on the twin fifties, with the third-highest score being Rameez Shahzad’s 15.

Afghanistan’s top order gave a good account of themselves much before the spinners came on. Mohammad Shahzad (44) and Najeeb Tarakai (40) justified Asghar Stanikzai’s decision to bat first by putting on 67 in just 7.5 overs. Then they lost three wickets in the space of 18 deliveries; Mustafa taking two of those in an over to briefly set them back.

But Usman Ghani (27) and Samiullah Shenwari (39) continued the onslaught to ensure the momentum was back with them. Najibullah Zadran ended with a flourish, making an unbeaten 11-bal 18, as Afghanistan smashed 63 off the last six overs.