The UAE will need to beat Ireland on Wednesday to have any chance of qualifying for the Desert T20 semi-finals after their five-wicket defeat to Afghanistan on Monday.
The hosts could have sealed their spot in Friday’s last-four stage with a triumph over the strongest Associate nation in the tournament but ultimately fell short at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Defending 147, UAE would have fancied their chances with the tourists needing 20 from 12 balls.
But it was the 18th over that saw the game go in Afghanistan’s favour with Mohammad Shahzad proving very costly.
The all-rounder conceded all 20 runs including six wides as Afghanistan, riding on a 52-run stand between captain Asghar Stanikzai (30) and Samiullah Shenwari (42), snatched victory in front of thousands of jubilant fans.
UAE coach Owais Shah must be frustrated with his batsmen’s inability to build big partnerships. The 43-run stand between Shaiman Anwar, who was dropped once before scoring his third straight 50, and Ghulam Shabber (20) was the highest with only four batsmen reaching double figures.
Earlier, all-rounder Shahzad (13) was promoted to open the innings and he gave the hosts a blistering start with three boundaries in his first four balls.
But that was as good as it got for the 37-year-old as he was trapped lbw by Fareed Ahmad.
At the other end, Rohan Mustafa (29) was beginning to find his feet and it was in the third over where he unleashed, scoring 14 runs.
The 28-year-old hit the first maximum of the game in the fourth over. But that proved to be the last moment of joy for the all-rounder as Mustafa was caught by Karim Janat at fine-leg off Dawlat Zadran.
Shabber and Anwar brought up the 100 after 13 overs. However their partnership was halted when Shabbir was caught behind.
From then on, the UAE batsmen struggled. There was time for Anwar to score his half-century (52) before falling to Zadran, who finished the game with his best T20 figures of 4-44.
