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Afghanistan defeat Scotland by a huge margin of 130 runs

Time icon October 25, 2021 | Last Updated: May 17, 2024 at 5:38 AM

Afghanistan vs Scotland, 17th Match, Group 2 (N), Sharjah, Oct 25 2021

Match Result: Afghanistan won by 130 runs

Player of the Match: Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Match Report: Chasing the mammoth total of 191 was never going to be easy for Scotland but no one would have expected them to collapse in the manner they did. Mujeeb Ur Rahman crashed their chase with a three-wicket over, and went on to complete his first five-for in T20Is, finishing with figures of 4-0-20-5

The lower order then stood no chance against Rashid Khan, who picked up 4 for 9 in 2.2 overs as Scotland were bundled out for 60 in just 10.2 overs. The margin of victory – 130 runs – was the biggest for Afghanistan in the format and one of the biggest ever in T20 history.

Earlier, after Mohammad Nabi had opted to bat, Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad provided Afghanistan with a flashing start, with the fifty coming up in just 5.1 overs. Najibullah Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz then added 87 in 52 balls for the third wicket to lift the side to a total that proved well out of Scotland’s reach.

Biggest wins in T20 WCs (by runs)
172 SL vs Ken Joburg 2007
130 SA vs Sco The Oval 2009
130 Afg vs Sco Sharjah 2021
116 Eng vs Afg Cololmbo 2012

Mujeeb Ur Rahman: “Very happy that we won our first match. This is my first World Cup game and I won the Man of the Match. The fans bring in a lot of energy and that’s why we played positive cricket tonight.”

Kyle Coetzer | Scotland captain: “Clearly wasn’t one of our better days. We have been playing some really good cricket but sometimes things don’t go according to plan. This is a very good Afghanistan team with very good bowlers and this was a slightly tricky pitch and they bowled fantastically, so need to give credit to them.

But Watt bowled well for us today, he was brilliant. We fought hard in the field, it’s just a level check where the standards are. We got a bunch of players and we’ll try to reflect that and get ready for the next game. The belief in the players is the key.

The last thing we want is the guys to go back to the hotel and slip away into their rooms. I don’t think they’ll do that, as a group we’ll sit together, take it in our stride, have a chat and try to bounce back.“

Five LBW dismissals in a T20I innings
Net vs SL Sharjah 2021
Sco vs Afg Sharjah 2021

Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan captain: “It’s important to win at the start of the tournament. This was our plan, to bat first and post a big total. Both the openers started well, we finished the powerplay on a good note. The running between the wickets was good.

We rotated the strike really well and Najib played well to help as post such a big total. The world knows we have some good spinners in the form of Rashid and Mujeeb, they’ve played everywhere in the world. We have a very good team combination.

When we play the local tournaments, I, Mujeeb and Rashid are the most expensive bowlers. Mujeeb is playing his first T20 World Cup match and he got the Player of the Match award, that’s good to see, it’s fantastic.”

Afghanistan defeat Scotland by a huge margin of 130 runs

Avishkar Govardhane

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