Afghanistan VS Scotland Played at Sarjah on 25 October 2021
Afghanistan 190/4 (Najibullah Zadran 59, Rahmatullah Gurbaj 46, Hasmatullah Zazai 44, Ahmad Shehzad 22, Safyan Sharif 2/33)
Socotland 60 All Out (George Munsey 25, Mujeebur Rahman 5/20 <Rashid Khan 4/9)
Afghanistan Won by 130 Runs
Player of the Match : Mujeebur Rahman
In a clinical all-round performance Afghanistan spearheaded by mystery spinner Mujeebur Rahman (5/20) and redoubtable leg spinner Rashid Khan blew away pathetic looking Scotland recording the second largest (130 Runs) win in T20 history. Afghanistan was automatic qualifier of Super 12 for higher ICC Ranking. Scotland qualified being champion from the group which had Bangladesh, Oman and PNG.
This match gave enough indication that, on a slightly spin favoring wicket world class Afghanistan spinners can cause great headache for the major contenders of the group Pakistan, India and New Zealand. This Afghanistan team despite of very limited playing opportunities in their war and conflict ravaged countries has continued producing world class cricketers many of whom as treated as rock stars in T20 Franchise across the Cricket world.
Including the Captain Mohammad Nabi, they have three world class spinners who can walk into any team of the world on any day. They have now found some competent batsmen in Zazai and Gurbaz, Nazibullah Zadaran, Ahmad Shezad are more matured now. Afghans play their cricket mostly in India and UAE. The slow gripping, turning tracks of Sarjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai would favor them in making few upsets against leading opponents. This big win against Scotland must have served a wakeup call for Semi Final aspirants from the group. If someone Afghans manages score of 160 plus it would not easy for any team subduing them.
Yesterday batting first Afghans scored 190/4, the highest of the T20 World Cup 2021. Hasmatullah Zazai (44) and Ahmad Shehzad (22) gave a reasonable start. Najibullah Zadran (59) and Rahmatuallh Gurbaz (46) batted with aggression taking Afghan score sky high. 190/4 was way beyond Scotland reach considering the very potent Afghanistan attack.
Helpless Scots had no clue how to deal with world class spin of Mujeeb (5/20) and Rashid (4/9). They got wrapped up scoring 60 all out in 10.2 Overs. Afghanistan recorded the second largest victory in T20 world cup by 130 runs. Such a win must have let out strong message for the semifinal aspirants New Zealand, Pakistan and India. It would not be easy dealing with strong Afghans in this T20 world cup.
Such a win must have given some solace to struggling Afghans in the present difficult days.
BDST: 1145 HRS, OCT 26, 2021
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