In a warm-up match preceding the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan demonstrated their prowess against Scotland in a commanding fashion. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan‘s decision paid off handsomely as they capitalized on favorable conditions at the Port of Spain in Trinidad.
Opening the innings, Gulbadin Naib, alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz, set a blistering pace, with Naib‘s aggressive strokeplay propelling Afghanistan to a formidable start. Naib‘s remarkable fifty off just 21 balls laid a solid foundation for his team, showcasing his ability to dominate the opposition bowlers. However, despite Naib‘s fireworks, Scotland‘s bowlers, led by Mark Watt and Bradley Currie, managed to apply the brakes and pick up crucial wickets at regular intervals.
Afghanistan‘s momentum was briefly disrupted as Scotland‘s bowlers tightened their grip, but the late onslaught from skipper Rashid Khan ensured Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 178/8 at the end of their innings.
In response, Scotland faced early setbacks as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq struck early blows to dismantle Scotland‘s top order. Rashid Khan further compounded Scotland‘s woes with his spin wizardry, claiming vital breakthroughs to keep Afghanistan in control of the proceedings. Supported by Karim Janat‘s effective bowling, Afghanistan successfully restricted Scotland to a modest total, clinching a convincing 55-run victory.
This comprehensive win serves as a confidence booster for Afghanistan as they gear up for their opening match against Uganda on June 4th. Meanwhile, Scotland will face England in Barbados in their tournament opener, aiming to bounce back from their warm-up defeat and make a statement on the world stage.
In another warm-up match between Ireland and Sri Lanka in Florida, Sri Lanka faced early batting struggles but managed to recover and post a competitive total, thanks to late-order contributions from Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, and Dasun Shanaka. Despite a promising start to their chase led by Paul Stirling and George Dockrell, Ireland fell short as Sri Lanka‘s bowlers, particularly Dasun Shanaka, dominated proceedings to secure victory by 41 runs.
