Afghanistan couldn’t have asked for a better start to their ICC 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. In their match against Uganda in Guyana on June 3, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on an impressive 154-run partnership for the opening wicket, propelling Afghanistan to a total of 183/5. Fazalhaq Farooqi then delivered a stunning performance, taking 5/9, and leading his team to a commanding 125-run victory. This victory marked Afghanistan’s third-largest win in T20 World Cup history.
Chasing a target of 184, Uganda faced immediate trouble, collapsing to 18 for 5 within the first five overs. Riazat Ali Shah and Robinson Obuya provided some resistance, but once they were dismissed, the lower order crumbled, and Uganda was bowled out for a mere 58. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the standout performer for Afghanistan, dismantling the Ugandan batting lineup with his five-wicket haul. Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq contributed with two wickets each, while Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman took one. This dominant win significantly boosted Afghanistan’s net run rate and morale.Earlier, Afghanistan was put into bat first and capitalised on the opportunity.
Thanks to aggressive 70s from Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, they reached 183 for 5. However, the middle order failed to maintain the momentum after the openers’ dismissal, resulting in a total that was 20-30 runs short of the projected score. Cosmos Kyewuta and skipper Brian Masaba were the standout bowlers for Uganda, each taking two wickets and maintaining economical figures. Despite a strong bowling comeback, Uganda couldn’t compete with the bat, failing to pose any serious challenge to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan will be extremely pleased with this comprehensive victory, which not only gives them a strong start in the tournament but also a significant boost to their confidence. Uganda, on the other hand, will need to reflect on their performance, take the positives, and look to improve as they progress in the competition.