Afghanistan kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with an emphatic 125-run victory over Uganda, marking a dominant start to their tournament journey. The match witnessed outstanding performances both with the bat and the ball. Kolkata Knight Riders’ opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and his partner Ibrahim Zadran forged a formidable opening partnership, amassing a substantial 154 runs—the second-highest in men’s T20 World Cup history. Gurbaz’s explosive innings of 76 runs off 45 balls and Zadran’s composed 70 off 46 balls propelled Afghanistan’s challenging total of 183/5 after being asked to bat.
The Afghan bowlers, led by left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, displayed their skill and prowess in dismantling the Ugandan batting lineup. Farooqi’s exceptional figures of 5/9, including being twice on the verge of claiming a hat-trick, earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ accolade. Skipper Rashid Khan expressed his satisfaction with the team’s collective effort and performance, underscoring the unity and determination exhibited by the players.
Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Farooqi attributed his growth as a bowler to his experience in franchise cricket, particularly with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. He emphasized the importance of simplicity and precision in bowling, which proved effective against Uganda.
Afghanistan’s openers laid a strong foundation early in the innings, capitalizing on favorable batting conditions and a swift outfield. Gurbaz’s aggressive intent, including hitting a six off the second ball of the innings, set the tempo, while Zadran’s calculated stroke play compounded Uganda’s challenges.
Despite Uganda’s lapses in fielding contributing to Afghanistan’s momentum, the bowlers staged a fightback to restrict the total from crossing the 200-run mark. Looking ahead, Afghanistan faces a tougher challenge against New Zealand, with Rashid emphasizing the need for simplicity in their approach.
Afghanistan’s commanding victory in their T20 World Cup opener underscores their potential as a formidable contender in the tournament. With both their batting and bowling units firing on all cylinders, they have laid down a strong marker for their aspirations in the competition.
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