With a rapid-fire 76 by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who powered Afghanistan into a big lead, they thrashed Uganda with 183-5 in Guyana on Monday in the group C fixture.
Uganda had a difficult first experience of top-level match play after choosing to field first as Gurbaz and opening partner Ibrahim Zadran went on rampage at Providence Stadium.
Gurbaz took 45 balls for his innings which consisted of four fours and four sixes.
Zadran was also brutal, hitting out at Uganda’s bowlers for 70 off 46 balls including nine fours and one sixer.
This was the second highest partnership for the opening wicket in men’s T20 WC history behind Jos Buttler and Alex Hales’ stand of 170 against England during the 2022 World Cup.
Though unbeaten partnerships looked like the order of the day from Gurbaz and Zadran, late in their innings, Uganda made some little amends. In this same way Captain Brian Masaba and Cosmas Kyewuta were taking two wickets each while Alpesh Ramjani caught another victim.
In over fifteen, Masaba got rid of Zadran when he bowled him out to give Uganda their maiden world cup wicket; therefore, leaving Afghanistan at154-1.
Gulbadin Naib had Kyewuta alongside him who was able to get through Najibullah Zadran after Nasir Jamal had dismissed Gurbaz (caught by Riazat Ali Shah at deep square leg) with his third ball after coming on to bowl.
Towards the end of Afghanistan’s innings Kyewuta took both Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai thereby slowing down their scoring.
