In a convincing display of skill, Afghanistan triumphed over Canada by 82 runs in their group match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in Chennai on February 19. The match showcased a remarkable all-round effort from the Afghan team, particularly from Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi, who key players in both batting and bowling departments.

Afghanistan, batting first after winning the toss, saw their opening partnership yield 47 runs. However, the early loss of influential batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 30 meant that the team quickly found itself at 49 for 2 at the conclusion of the power play. Zadran then anchored the innings, crafting a solid half-century that marked his second consecutive fifty in the tournament. His significant partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who contributed 44 runs, set the stage for a robust finish to the innings.

Zadran’s outstanding performance saw him scoring a personal best of 95 runs off just 56 balls, making it the highest individual score for an Afghan player in the current World Cup edition. His inning included seven boundaries and five sixes, leading Afghanistan to a substantial total of 200 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs. For Canada, the standout bowler was Jaskarandeep Singh, who took 3 wickets for 52 runs in his four overs.

Early Collapse Derails Canada’s Chase

In response, Canada’s chase began on shaky ground as Yuvraj Samra, who shone in the previous match, was dismissed for 17 runs from 14 balls, falling to the bowling of Mohammad Nabi. The team’s predicament worsened when Captain Dilpreet Bajwa was bowled for 13 by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Navneet Dhailwal was dismissed for a duck after facing just five balls, leaving Canada struggling at 34 for 3 after six overs.

The wickets continued to tumble for Canada post-powerplay, with Mohammad Nabi capturing the wicket of Nicholas Kirton, who managed 20 runs. The following over saw wicketkeeper-batter Shreyas Movva departing for just 2 runs, leaving Canada reeling at 48 for 5 by the ninth over. Other key batsmen, including Saad Bin Zafar (28), Dilon Heyliger (3), Jaskaran Singh (7 not out), and Ansh Patel (2 not out), failed to provide the required support as Canada concluded their innings at a disappointing 118 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs.

Among the notable bowlers for Afghanistan, Mohammad Nabi was exceptional with figures of 4 wickets for just 7 runs, while Captain Rashid Khan took 2 for 19. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman contributed as well, securing one wicket each. The comprehensive victory is a testament to Afghanistan’s strong all-round capabilities in this tournament.

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