Afghanistan all-rounder Karim Janat produced a match-winning display of power-hitting as Yas Lions defeated United Tigers by 13 runs in the Abu Dhabi T10, handing the Tigers their first defeat of the season.

Janat turned the contest around with a blistering innings after the Lions had slipped to 50 for three. He launched consecutive sixes against Abbas Afridi before repeating the feat against Faheem Ashraf in the following over. Alongside Tom Moores, he lifted Yas Lions to 115 for five.

United Tigers, who had won their first three matches, were restricted to 102 for five in reply.

“There is a saying in cricket that if it is a cricketer’s day, he can do anything,” Janat said after the match, reflecting on his decisive contribution.

Pakistan T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan, who opened the batting for the Tigers, acknowledged that Janat’s innings had shifted the momentum.

“Credit goes to Karim Janat for the way he batted from there. If a batter gets a start like that, it is very difficult for the bowlers to come back,” Farhan said. 

“This is T10 cricket. If one or two overs go for 15 or 20, the match goes out of your hands.”

Hosein kept Lions in the game

Despite Janat’s late assault, the Lions still had to defend their total against a Tigers side that remained in contention for much of the chase. Fakhar Zaman’s 44 kept the visitors in the hunt, but West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein delivered the decisive blow.

The Lions had used Hosein for one of his two overs during the powerplay and held the other back for the closing stages. The left-arm spinner conceded just five runs in the final over to seal the victory.

Janat said the Tigers had been in control during the bowling innings until Hosein’s return changed the contest.

“In bowling, the match was in their hands. But when Akeal came back, the whole scenario changed, and the match came to our side. It was a plan from the beginning. It is difficult for a left-hander to play a left-arm spinner,” he said.

The Lions also relied on the ground’s long boundaries and a disciplined wide-yorker strategy.

“The ground is big, so we planned that a wide yorker is no issue. The batter has to change his mind. If a batter’s mind changes in a short format, anything can happen,” Janat explained.

He added that confidence and sticking to the basics were central to defending a total in the fast-paced format.

Stick to basics

“Here a bowler is happy if he gives 10 runs in an over. As Jason Holder told us, have self-belief and keep belief in the basics. We kept a simple plan, and the ball went where we wanted it to go,” he said.

Farhan offered a similar assessment from the losing dressing room, pointing to Hosein’s change of pace as a key factor in the final stages.

“In T10, it is ball to ball. Akeal Hosein took the pace off, and from there it got away from us,” he said.

Farhan also explained the decision to retire Iftikhar Ahmed and send Abbas Afridi to the crease.

“Sometimes it is not your day, and you are not timing the ball, so you try the next player. Unfortunately, it did not work for us today,” he said.

Beyond the result, both players highlighted the value of franchise leagues in developing cricketers and building relationships across national teams.

Janat credited the experience gained through competitions such as the T10, ILT20 and IPL for the progress Afghanistan’s players have made in recent years.

“The benefit comes from the league cricket we play, T10, ILT20, IPL, all the leagues. National players share the dugout with overseas players and you get a lot of experience from them. That is where the confidence comes from,” he said.

Farhan said the Tigers’ dressing room, which brings together Pakistani, Afghan, overseas and UAE-based players, had developed a strong sense of togetherness.

“We have Pakistani boys, Afghan boys and other boys, and a local boy we have played cricket with. We are all brothers, and we play a lot of cricket together,” he said.

Demanding schedule

The demanding schedule has also tested the squad, with the Tigers having played four matches in five days.

“We played four matches in five days, and tomorrow we have a rest,” Farhan said.

The defeat comes during a significant year for the 30-year-old opener, who led Pakistan to silver at the Asian Games in Japan before being appointed the country’s T20I captain in October.

Farhan acknowledged that the leadership role had brought a different level of responsibility.

“When you play as a player, you play for your country. When you become captain, you are responsible for all the players, and people look at you in a different way. I will keep trying to improve as a captain,” he said.

Asked about his preferred opening partner, Farhan named his United Tigers teammate Fakhar Zaman, who scored 44 in the chase.

“Fakhar Zaman. We are proud of him. When he is standing at the non-striker’s end, you do not feel so much pressure even if you play a dot ball,” he said.

Despite the setback, Farhan remained upbeat about the Tigers’ campaign, pointing to their three victories in four matches.

“We have won three out of four, so the morale of the team is high,” he said.

United Tigers will return to action on Friday against Emirates Eagles, as Yas Lions, who have won two of their three matches, face Arabian Aces.