Dubai: UAE went down fighting to Afghanistan in the first of the three-match Twenty20 International series being held at the ICC Academy by 11 runs on Wednesday.

Chasing Afghanistan’s impressive total of 161 for 6 in 20 overs, UAE could muster only 150 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. Rameez Shahzad’s fighting 49 and Shaiman Anwar’s 34 runs and their 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket went in vain.

It was a dramatic end to the match with UAE needing 27 runs off the last over. UAE’s Mohammad Usman hit Afghanistan medium pacer Karim Janat’s first delivery for a six over square leg. He also hit the third ball over long on for another six but could not pull the team to the target.

Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and promptly elected to bat. They lost opener Najeeb Tarakai for 11 who lifted skipper Amjad Javed straight to Shahzad at long on. Opener Mohammad Shahzad and skipper Asghar Stanikzai took the score to 63 when UAE medium pacer Mohammad Shahzad forced Shahzad to pull him to Amjad Gul at midwicket for 38. Shahzad then had Samiullah Shenwari caught behind for a duck while Mohammad Naveed clean bowled Stanikzai for 13. Afghanistan slipped to 65 for 4 in 10.2 overs.

Mohammad Nabi (26) and Karim Janat (25) swelled the total before Shahzad dismissed Nabi. If not for some hard hitting by Najbullah Zadran, UAE could have restricted Afghanistan to below 150 runs. Zadran hit an unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls with three sixes and two boundaries.

UAE began their chase well putting on 26 runs in 3.5 overs before Janat dismissed opener Mohammad Qasim for 10. Janat also dismissed in-form opener Rohan Mustafa for 25 runs. When Janat also had Shahzad caught by Nabi at long on for two runs, UAE slipped to 41 for 3 in 6.6 overs before Anwar and Rameez Shahzad put on the big partnership. However, Afghanistan left-arm pacer’s double strike to dismiss Javed and Amjad Gul in quick succession pulled UAE back. Leg spinner Rashid Khan picked the prize wicket of Rameez by getting him stumped by wicketkeeper Shahzad for 49.

Brief scores

Afghanistan bt UAE by 11 runs. Afghanistan 161 for 6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 38, Mohammad Nabi 26, Karim Janat 25, Mohammad Shahzad 3 for 34) UAE 150 for 7 in 20 overs (Rohan Mustafa 25, Shaiman Anwar 34, Rameez Shahzad 49, Karim Janat 3 for 31) Man of the match: Karim Janat