Opener Ibrahim Zadran showcased a brilliant unbeaten 95 runs, marking his second consecutive fifty, propelling Afghanistan to a total of 200/4 in 20 overs against Canada in the Men’s T20 World Cup Group D match at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Afghanistan, under the coaching of Jonathan Trott for the last time, started steadily but faced a setback when Jaskaran Singh of Canada dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib in quick succession in the sixth over.
Zadran took charge of the innings, forming a crucial 95-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal off 59 balls for the third wicket. While Zadran achieved his second fifty in the tournament, Atal contributed 44 off 32 balls before departing in the 16th over. Zadran’s resilient knock, including seven fours and five sixes, guided Afghanistan to a historic total of 200, their first-ever 200-plus score in the tournament.
Canada’s bowlers had a mixed performance, with Jaskaran Singh taking 3-52 and Dilon Heyliger grabbing 1-41. The target set by Afghanistan appears challenging, putting pressure on Canada to chase down the total and conclude their campaign on a positive note.
Afghanistan swiftly reached 49 in the Power-play but faced a setback with the dismissals of Gurbaz and Naib. Despite this, Zadran, in a composed manner, found support in Atal, who played a crucial role with seven boundaries in his 44 runs. Although Atal’s departure in the 16th over posed a momentary challenge, Zadran’s controlled yet aggressive approach ensured Afghanistan’s stability and momentum.
Canada’s bowlers struggled in the death overs, allowing Afghanistan to score 69 runs in the final five overs. Zadran’s exceptional batting display, coupled with his ability to accelerate when needed, kept Afghanistan on course for a substantial total, setting the stage for an intense second innings.
