Afghanistan delivered a masterclass in T20 cricket, thrashing Canada by 82 runs in a T20 World Cup clash at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium. This victory slots in as their fourth-largest margin by runs in the tournament’s history, boosting their campaign with authority.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss might have backfired for Canada, but it was Afghanistan who capitalized ruthlessly. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran laid the foundation with a brisk 47-run opening partnership. Gurbaz departed after a quickfire 30 (20 balls, 5×4), paving the way for Zadran’s unbeaten masterpiece of 95 (56 balls, 7×4, 5×6). Sedikullah Atal’s 44 off 32 balls in a 95-run stand with Zadran pushed the score to 200/4. Canada’s bowlers, led by Jaskaran Singh’s 3 wickets, struggled to contain the onslaught.
In reply, Canada folded tamely to 118/8. Mohammad Nabi stole the show with a sensational 4/7, cementing his legacy – it’s the third-best haul by an Afghan bowler in T20 World Cups, behind Fazalhaq Farooqi’s 5/8 and Mujeeb’s 5/20. Rashid Khan (2/??), Omarzai, and Mujeeb ensured no comeback. Harsh Thaker’s 30 was the highest, but futile.
Looking back, Afghanistan’s biggest T20 WC win remains 130 runs over Scotland (2021), followed by 125 vs Uganda and 84 vs New Zealand in 2024. This performance showcases their balanced attack and batting depth, positioning them strongly in the competition.