Nawaz bags hat-trick as Pakistan drub Afghanistan to win tri-series

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz bagged an impressive fifer – including a hat-trick – while Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed picked two apiece as Pakistan trounced Afghanistan on their way to the tri-series title victory. In a game where 29.5 overs of spin were sent down, Afghanistan were shot out for 66 in chase of Pakistan’s 141/8 in Sharjah.

Nawaz trapped Darwish Rasooli in front and then had Azmatullah Omarzai caught behind off the next delivery. On the first ball of his next over, he drew Ibrahim Zadran forward and had him stumped to accomplish his hat-trick. Afghanistan were reduced to 32/5, staring at an abhorrent finish.

Nawaz was hungry for more though. Three balls later he got the better of Karim Janat and completed a double-wicket maiden. In the 13th over, the on-song tweaker claimed his fifth wicket – that of Rashid Khan as the Afghanistan captain miscued a shot towards cover. It was Afghanistan’s second-lowest all-out totals in T20Is.

Earlier, Pakistan batters too found the going difficult on a surface that gripped and turned. Rashid, Noor Ahmad and AM Ghazanfar arrested six of the eight wickets to fall as Pakistan batted iffily all through.