In the fifth match of the ICC Men T20 World Cup, Afghanistan secured a dominant victory over Uganda, winning by a commanding margin of 125 runs. The match, which was held at the Providence Cricket Stadium in Guyana, saw Afghanistan set a formidable target for Uganda after being put in to bat first.

Afghanistan Innings

Winning the toss and choosing to field, Uganda gave Afghanistan the opportunity to set the pace of the game. Afghanistan took full advantage of this, scoring a robust total of 183 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were instrumental in building a solid foundation for the innings. They formed a formidable partnership of 154 runs, with Ibrahim Zadran scoring a well-constructed 70 runs off 46 balls. His innings included 1 six and 9 fours, showcasing his ability to find gaps and rotate strike effectively.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz also played a crucial role, contributing 76 runs off 45 balls. His innings was marked by 4 sixes and 4 fours, demonstrating his aggressive intent and power-hitting capabilities. Despite their solid start, Afghanistan experienced a slight collapse as the innings progressed. Najibullah Zadran managed only 2 runs, while Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai added 4 and 5 runs, respectively, before being dismissed.

In the later stages of the innings, Mohammad Nabi, known for his all-round abilities, remained unbeaten with a valuable 14 runs off 16 balls. Captain Rashid Khan also contributed with a brief cameo of 2 runs off just one ball, helping Afghanistan to finish their innings on a strong note.

Uganda Batting Struggles

Chasing a challenging target of 184 runs, Uganda's batting lineup was unable to cope with the pressure and quality of the Afghan bowlers. The entire Uganda team was dismissed for a meager total of 58 runs in just the 16th over. From the very beginning of their innings, Uganda struggled to build any significant partnerships. Opener Ronak Patel managed only 4 runs before being dismissed, while Roger Mukasa failed to get off the mark and was out without scoring.

Simon Ssesazi and Dinesh Nakrani also struggled, with Ssesazi scoring 4 runs and Nakrani contributing just 6 runs before being dismissed. Alpesh Ramjani also failed to make an impact and was caught out for no runs. Riyaz Ali Shah and captain Brian Aboagye were unable to make a lasting impression, with Riyaz scoring 11 runs and Brian Aboagye failing to score.

Robinson Aboagye showed some resistance with a score of 14 runs before his dismissal. Bilal Hassan contributed 8 runs, but Henry Senyondo was dismissed without scoring. Cosmos Kyewuta managed to remain unbeaten with a modest 2 runs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the collapse of the Ugandan innings.

Afghanistan Bowling Prowess

Afghanistan's bowlers were exceptional in their performance, particularly pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was the standout performer. Farooqi's spell was devastating as he took 5 wickets for just 9 runs in his 4-over spell, dismantling the Ugandan batting lineup with precision and pace. His ability to extract movement and maintain tight lines ensured that Uganda never had a chance to build any momentum.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the spin maestro, provided valuable support by taking 1 wicket, while Naveen-ul-Haq also contributed with 2 crucial wickets. The combined effort of these bowlers ensured that Uganda's chase never gained any real traction and ended in a comprehensive defeat.