Afghanistan registered a 125-run win over debutants Uganda in their first ICC T20 World Cup 2024 match at Providence Stadium, Guyana on 4th June. Defending a total of 184 runs, Fazalhaq Farooqi struck after being hit for a boundary off first delivery.
He dismissed Ronak Patel with a peach hitting the stumps and then produced a superb delivery getting rid of Roger Musaka’s plumb in front to leave Uganda in trouble at 4 for 2. Uganda looked in deep trouble scoring 21 for 5 at the end of the first six overs.
Farooqi was brought into the attack again in the 13th over. He showed his class by picking up 3 wickets in his 3rd over. It was a superb effort by the left-arm pacer dismissing Riazat Ali Shah shattering the stumps, Brian Musaba was caught by Gurbaz, and then Robinson Obuya with a simple catch to Gurbaz to leave Uganda in dire trouble.
Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled another lovely final over giving away just 1 run against Bilal Hassan and Kyewuta. It was a superb figure by Farooqi ending with figures of 5 for 9 in 4 overs. Afghanistan bundled Uganda for 58 to register a dominating win. For his match-winning efforts, Farooqi was named the player of the match award. He also registered his best bowling figures in T20I format.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran Set Up Solid Foundation
Uganda captain Brian Musaba won the toss and decided to field first. Gurbaz and Zadran showed intent right from the word go with positive intent putting pressure on the inexperienced Uganda bowling lineup.
Gurbaz and Zadran raced away to 66 for 0 at the end of the first six overs. After the field restrictions, both maintained the pressure on Uganda bowlers keeping the strike rotating and hitting bad deliveries away for boundaries.
Gurbaz completed a half-century off 28 deliveries while Ibrahim Zadran also reached fifty off 34 balls. Gurbaz and Zadran’s brilliant 154-run-opening partnership ended as Brian Musaba struck, getting wickets for both openers. Gurbaz made 76 off 45 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes while Ibrahim Zadran made 70 off 46 deliveries with 9 boundaries and 1 six.
Najibullah Zadran, Gulbaidn Naib, and Azamatullah Omarzai could not increase the scoring rate. Thanks to the opening partnership of 154, Afghanistan made 183 for 5 in 20 overs.
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