Afghanistan set debutants Uganda a target of 184 and then dismissed them for 58 for a resounding victory in Guyana.
Afghanistan produced a dominant bowling and batting performance to defeat debutants Uganda by 125 runs in their opening T20 World Cup match in Guyana.
Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran laid the foundation for victory on Monday with an opening stand of 154 at Afghanistan's 183-5 before left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi dazzled with five wickets for just nine runs , while Uganda were bowled out for 58 in 16 overs.
“It was the kind of start we wanted as a team,” Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said after the match.
“It doesn't matter who we play against, the important thing is the mentality.
“The hard work we've put in the last few weeks, the way the starters started and the way our players played, it was a great overall team effort.”
Afghanistan looked set for a huge total after Gurbaz's 76 off 45 balls, which included four fours and four sixes.
Zadran was in similar swashbuckling form, hitting 70 off 46 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.
Gurbaz and Zadran's opening partnership was the second-highest in men's T20 World Cup history, surpassed only by England's Jos Buttler and Alex Hales' 170 in 2022.
But when Gurbaz and Zadran fell in the space of four balls, Uganda was able to come back against Afghanistan.
Masaba claimed a piece of cricket history for the East African nation after taking his country's first World Cup wicket, bowling Zadran in the 15th over to leave the score at 154-1.
Alpesh Ramjani then removed Gurbaz, who was caught by Riazat Ali Shah at deep stretch for 76.
Masaba claimed his second wicket, getting rid of Najibullah Zadran, who was caught at deep square leg by Dinesh Nakrani.
Cosmas Kyewuta took the other two wickets.
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟒
𝐃𝐨𝐭𝐬: 𝟏𝟖
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬: 𝟗
𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬: 𝟓
𝐄.𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟐.𝟐𝟓how good it was @FazalFarooqi10 With the ball tonight! 🤩⚡#AfghanAtalan | #T20WorldCup | #AFGvUGA | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/Hxay4Wu9wY
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 4, 2024
Any hope that Uganda's bowling comeback would extend to their innings was extinguished by Fazalhaq in the first over.
After Uganda opener Ronak Patel hit a four off Fazalhaq's first ball, the Afghan bowler hit back with two wickets off his next two deliveries, removing Patel and Roger Mukasa, to leave the Africans reeling with 4-2.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman then had Simon Ssesazi caught by Fazalhaq at top advantage for four as Uganda fell to 8-3.
Wickets continued to fall and Uganda were soon 18-5 in the fifth over.
Fazalhaq took the wickets of Masaba and Robinson Obuya, both caught behind, to complete his five-wicket haul before captain Khan cleared the tail by dismissing Bilal Hassan lbw and bowling Hendry Ssenyondo.
Uganda captain Masaba took positives from his team's T20 World Cup debut despite the heavy defeat.
“A very special moment for us, hearing our national anthem and seeing our flag at the World Cup,” Masaba said.
“Something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“First game of the World Cup, a lot of nerves. It's good to get that out of the way. We will try to go out and play better next game.”
