Despite an early exit from the tournament, Afghanistan concluded their T20 World Cup campaign on a resounding high, securing back-to-back victories to restore pride to the national side. Following a clinical five-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates, the Afghans dismantled Canada by 82 runs in Chennai, marking their departure with a performance of significant historical weight.
Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Afghanistan’s top order delivered a masterclass in aggressive accumulation, propelling the team to an imposing total of 200. This achievement marks the first time in the history of the T20 World Cup that Afghanistan has breached the 200-run milestone, signaling their evolution from a bowling-heavy outfit to a formidable all-round unit.
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Ibrahim Zadran’s Record-Breaking Masterclass
The cornerstone of this historic total was an exquisite display by opener Ibrahim Zadran. Zadran fell agonisingly short of a century, remaining unbeaten on 95 runs from just 56 deliveries. His knock now stands as the highest individual score by an Afghan batsman in the history of the T20 World Cup. He was ably supported by his opening partner, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who contributed a quickfire 30, and Sediqullah Atal, whose 44 runs off 32 balls ensured the momentum remained firmly with the batting side during the middle overs.
Canada’s Stuttering Response
Faced with a daunting chase of over ten runs per over, Canada’s innings never truly threatened the Afghan total. The North American side was immediately pushed onto the back foot, slumping to a precarious 48 for 5 within the first nine overs. Yuvraj Samra, who had scored a brilliant century in his previous outing, was dismissed for a mere 17, effectively ending Canada’s hopes of a competitive chase. While Harsh Thaker offered some resistance with a top score of 30, the rest of the lineup struggled to cope with the precision of the Afghan attack.
Match Summary: Afghanistan vs Canada
| Category | Afghanistan | Canada |
| Total Score | 200/2 (20 Overs) | 118/8 (20 Overs) |
| Top Scorer | Ibrahim Zadran (95*) | Harsh Thaker (30) |
| Best Bowler | Mohammad Nabi (4/7) | Dillon Heyliger (1/32) |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 82 runs | — |
A Bowling Masterclass
The Afghan veterans took full advantage of the scoreboard pressure. Mohammad Nabi produced a career-best performance, strangling the Canadian middle order by taking four wickets for a measly 7 runs in his four-over spell.
The legendary Rashid Khan complemented Nabi’s thriftiness, claiming two wickets for 19 runs. The comprehensive nature of this victory ensures that while Afghanistan may not be progressing to the knockout stages, they return home with a clear message to the cricketing world regarding their burgeoning batting prowess and tactical maturity.