Najibullah stars in Afghanistan win over UAE

Dubai - Zadran's unbeaten 55 from just 24 balls consisted three towering sixes and five fours

Najibullah Zadran's late blitz powered Afghanistan to a five-wicket win over UAE to hand the hosts their second straight defeat in the three-match T20 series played at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday.
Coming in at No. 7 and with his team standing at a precarious position on 116 for 5 - chasing 180 to win - Zadran launched a ferocious attack on the UAE bowlers to take his team home with two balls to spare.
Zadran's unbeaten 55 from just 24 balls consisted three towering sixes and five fours. He was well supported by Mohammad Shahzad (31 from 12 balls, 7x4)), Asghar Stanikzai (29) and Mohammad Nabi's unbeaten 13.
Earlier UAE won the toss and Rohan Mustafa gave them a solid start although his opening partner Mohammad Shahzad departed early. Rohan and one-down Shaiman Anwar raised 74 runs for the second wicket.
Rohan's 43 from 31 balls which included five fours and a six and Shaiman's 60 from 50 balls (4x4, 3x6) gave UAE hopes of a big total and a chance of getting eve with Afghanistan after they lost the first T20.
Rameez Dhahzad too played a fiery knock of 47 not out from only 19 balls (5x4, 3x6) but all their good work was brought to knock by Najibullah who stole the show and the series away from UAE.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan beat UAE by 5 wickets
UAE 179 for 4 in 20 overs (Shaiman Anwar 60, Rohan Mustafa 43, Rameez Shahzad 47 n.o.; Fareed Ahmad 2/39) Afghanistan 183 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Najibullah Zadran 55 n.o., Mohammad Shahzad 31, Asghar Stanikzai 29; Amjad Javed 3 for 40).