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Afghanistan opener and wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed a scintilating century against UAE in the first game of the three-match T20I series. The tour in the UAE also marks Afghanistan's first campaign after an incredible ODI World Cup 2023 performance where the Atalan Lions won four games and finished sixth.
Though Gurbaz had a quiet World Cup, the Kolkata Knight Riders star took down the Emirati bowling attack from the word go. After Hazratullah Zazai's wicket, Gurbaz changed gears and zoomed to a 24-ball half-century. The 22-year-old, batting with Ibrahim Zadran, built a massive 137-run stand as he completed his T20I century in 50 balls and got out two balls later.
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In this ton, Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed seven fours and seven sixes as he batted an explosive 192.31 strike rate. After the 22-year-old's departure, Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi ensured that continued to score quick runs and help Afghanistan post 201 runs in 20 overs. Zadran ended with a composed 59 in 43 balls, Omarzai smashed 19 in eight balls with two fours and a six while Nabi slogged a boundary on the only ball he faced.
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Reflecting on the first innings, UAE's right-arm pacer, Ali Naseer spoke about how the team can chase if they can get a good start. Speaking in the mid-innings interview, Naseer said, "It was a great experience playing in front of such a crowd. They were obviously supporting Afghanistan but hopefully, we can come back and chase this. It's a good total but it's chaseable, the wicket is flat, ground is small and we can chase it down if we get a good start."
"If you bowl pace-off the ball is stopping a bit and they might do that which we should wait for. It has been great, made my debut here against the West Indies and over the last 6-7 months I am learning a lot from the senior players," he added.