Afghanistan thrashed Uganda to register a record 125-run win at the iconic Providence Stadium, Guyana, in a T20 World Cup clash. Asked to bat first, Afghanistan put up 183 runs, thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s (76 off 45) and Ibrahim Zadran’s (70 off 46) 154-run 1st wicket partnership.
Uganda, on the other hand, made a commendable comeback in the death overs to limit Afghanistan to 183 runs, conceding only 27 runs in the last five overs. However, they were unable to sustain their momentum and ultimately managed to put only 58 runs on board. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the destroyer, finishing with a 5/9 figure. Naveen Ul Haq (2/4) and Rashid Khan (2/12) did the rest of the work.
With this big win, Afghanistan has made a great stride towards the Super Eight. Clubbed together with the West Indies and New Zealand, this win can give them an edge in the NRR at the later stages.
THE SCORECARD 
Though the game turned out to be a cakewalk for Afghanistan, some moments defined the result:
Ibrahim Zadran’s early charge
Afghanistan entered this game with a strong reputation, perfectly justified by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Both of them started their innings with boundaries. Zadran, in particular, looked in deft touch. In the 6th over, Zadran smashed four consecutive fours to Dinesh Nakrani (0/37) to finish the power play on a perfect note.
Gurbaz’s takedown against spinners
After dominating the game in power play, the real test came against the spinners. But Gurbaz was ready with his shots, never letting the spinners settle. Zadran took the backseat as his partner at the batting end smashed boundaries every over to keep the runs flowing fast.
Hassan’s game-changing over
Even though Ramullah Gurbaz was firing from one end, Ibrahim Zadran found it difficult to go against spin. This slowed down the run flow a bit before Bilal Hassan’s (0/34) 14th over. The duo smashed 25 runs off that over to relieve themselves of some pressure.
Farooqi’s explosive start
After Uganda made a small comeback in the death overs, the match was on a level playing field. A good start could’ve kept the game alive for the African side. However, Fazalhaq Farooqi took two wickets in consecutive balls, sending Uganda on the back foot.
Naveen’s knockout punch
Uganda lost three wickets in two overs before Naveen-ul-Haq delivered a knockout punch. In his first over, he took wickets, knocking Uganda out of the match. Afghanistan registered a big victory with a margin of more than 100 runs, and it was highly possible due to Naveen and Farooqi’s masterclass.
Afghanistan, in a group with New Zealand and the West Indies, could greatly benefit if NRR comes into play. They have replaced the West Indies at the top and will next face New Zealand in Barbados on June 8. The odds for Afghanistan’s match against New Zealand are 2.10x. Afghanistan completely outclassed Uganda, but they still have a lot to gain and the opportunity to test themselves against the best. Their next game is against the West Indies.
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