Brief scores: Afghanistan (200/4 in 20 ov) beat Canada (118/8 in 20 ov) by 82 runs in Chennai in a Group D match.
AFG vs CAN T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Afghanistan signed off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing Canada by 82 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. While the 2024 semi-finalists fell short of qualifying for the Super 8s, the comprehensive victory ensured a fitting and emotional farewell for head coach Jonathan Trott, who has taken their cricket to greater heights in the last few years.
Afghanistan piled up a formidable 200 for 4 after being asked to bat, with Ibrahim Zadran leading the charge. Zadran remained unbeaten on a sublime 95 off 56 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. He anchored the innings beautifully, first adding 47 runs for the opening wicket with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who provided early impetus with a brisk 30 off 20 deliveries.
Thereafter, Zadran found an able ally in Sediqullah Atal, who has come through the ranks in the last 12 months. The duo stitched together a crucial 95-run partnership for the third wicket, a stand that effectively batted Canada out of the contest. Atal contributed a fluent 44 off 32 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression.
Late cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli ensured Afghanistan finished strongly. For Canada, Jaskaran Singh picked up three wickets but conceded 52 runs in his four overs.
NABI STINKS CANADA
Chasing 201, Canada never truly threatened. Afghanistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, dismantling the top order inside the powerplay. Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed Dilpreet Bajwa early, while Omarzai dismissed Navneet Dhaliwal, who was playing his final international match. In a touching moment, captain Rashid Khan shared a warm handshake with Dhaliwal as he walked off.
The star with the ball, however, was veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Rolling back the years, Nabi delivered a masterclass in control and variation, finishing with extraordinary figures of 4 for 7 in his four overs.
He tore through the middle order, dismissing Yuvraj Samra, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton and Dilon Heyliger to extinguish any faint hopes of a comeback. He might even have claimed a five-wicket haul had Gurbaz not spilled a chance in the 17th over.
Rashid Khan chipped in with two for 19, including the wicket of Saad Bin Zafar, as Canada were restricted to 118 for 8 in their 20 overs. Though Harsh Thaker’s 30 and Bin Zafar’s 28 provided brief resistance, the target was always beyond reach.
For Afghanistan, this victory meant more than just two points. It was a statement of resilience and a tribute to Trott’s tenure. While their World Cup journey ended sooner than expected, they left Chennai with pride restored and their coach given the farewell he richly deserved.
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