In an inconsequential T20 World Cup Group D encounter in Chennai on Thursday, Afghanistan overcame Canada by 82 runs thanks to an aggressive unbeaten half-century by opener Ibrahim Zadran and a superb bowling performance by Mohammad Nabi.
In their final match of the competition, Afghanistan reached a commanding 200/4 riding on Zadran’s unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, which included seven fours and five sixes. He also formed a 95-run third-wicket partnership with Sediqullah Atal (44 off 32).
After that, Mohammad Nabi (4/7) and Rashid Khan (2/19) restricted Canada to 118/8.
After being put in, Afghanistan delivered a dominant batting performance as both teams sought to return home on a high.
Afghanistan reached a high total as Zadran punished the Canadian bowlers with seven fours and five sixes taking advantage of a missed catch.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was cautious at first, but he survived a scare when wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva dropped him off pacer Dilon Heyliger in the second over.
Gurbaz (30 off 20) unfurled a flurry of sharp boundaries after measuring the surface with a few deliveries. But in the sixth over, Jaskaran Singh had him caught at deep point just as he appeared to be set for his hundred.
Afghanistan finished strongly at precisely 10 runs per over thanks to late cameos from Darwish Rasooli (4 not out) and Azmatullah Omarzai (13 off 7).
Jaskaran (3/52) was Canada’s only bright spot with the ball, but they faced a difficult chase in a game that offered nothing more than pride but plenty of competitive intent due to their careless fielding and incapacity to manage Zadran.
