Right then, that’s all from this game. Next up in the UAE Tri-Nation Series is a clash between two rivals, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on Tuesday, 2nd September. The Men in Green have already beaten the Afghans once and will look to make it two in a row to seal their place in the final, while Rashid Khan and co. will be eager to strike back and strengthen their chances of making it to the final. The first ball is set to be bowled at 3 pm GMT, but as always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The victorious captain of Afghanistan, RASHID KHAN, is all smiles and comes up for a chat. He begins by saying that you can't have more than 3-4 spinners in a team. Mentions that Noor Ahmad and Allah Mohammad are also in the side who are top class spinners for Afghanistan cricket. Adds that he and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are the two frontline spinners, and appreciates Sharafuddin Ashraf for performing well for the side. Admits that it was a tough decision for him to play Sharafuddin over Noor, just because of his hitting abilities down the order.

Muhammad Waseem, the captain of United Arab Emirates, says that they did not bowl well in the last ten overs and gave away a few too many runs. Adds that they were batting well till 9-10 overs, but he reckons that they lost the game when they lost his wicket and Asif Khan's wickets in quick succession. Mentions that he is not entirely happy with his knock, as he wanted to finish the game. Says that they will take the learnings from this game and hopefully do better in the next games.

Afghanistan's SHARAFUDDIN ASHRAF is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fantastic 3-for. Firstly, he thanks to all the people who came in to support in difficult times (citing the recent earthquake that shook Afghanistan). Says that they have got good spinners and calls all of them magicians. Adds that he tries to read the conditions and what the batters are trying to do. Details that in T20s, you have to believe in your abilities to beat the batters. Cites that self-belief is the most important. On being asked whether this is his first POTM award, he shares that he got one on his debut game. Thanks Rashid Khan for trusting him and supporting him in difficult times.

Presentation Time...

Afghanistan started well with Fazalhaq Farooqi striking early, but they were soon put under pressure by the UAE skipper’s onslaught. However, once the field restrictions eased, the spinners brought them back into the contest. Rashid Khan showcased his brilliance, grabbing a three-fer and becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20I history. Sharafuddin Ashraf matched him with three key wickets of his own, as the duo dominated the middle overs and turned the game on its head. Nabi chipped in with one as well, and Afghanistan sealed a commanding 38-run win.

Earlier in the game, Afghanistan overcame a slow start to post a commanding total, thanks to superb fifties from Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat then added the finishing touches with some powerful hitting in the death overs. For United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Rohid and Saghir Khan picked up a couple of wickets each, but their attack proved expensive at the back end, allowing the Afghans to seize the momentum late in the innings.

United Arab Emirates got off to a flying start, with their skipper leading the charge and sending the ball to all parts of the ground. They raced past 50 in just five overs and were well ahead of Afghanistan after the Powerplay. Muhammad Waseem found some support from Rahul Chopra and continued his aggressive approach, bringing up a fine fifty in just 25 balls. However, with the asking rate climbing, his dismissal came at the wrong time, sparking a dramatic collapse. The hosts crumbled from 90/2 to 122/8, and the chase completely fell apart. Chopra fought hard and remained unbeaten on 52, but with little support from the other end, it was never going to be enough.

Afghanistan bounce back in style! They get off the mark in this Tri-Nation Series and have now put United Arab Emirates in a do-or-die situation, where they’ll likely need to win their remaining two matches. The hosts once again showed fight in the chase, but their over-reliance on their skipper remains a major concern - something they’ll need to address quickly.

Who will bowl the last over? It will be Azmatullah Omarzai.