Mujib guides Afghanistan to 130-run win

KABUL (Pajhwok): Spin wizards Mujibur Rahman and Rashid Khan guided Afghanistan to a massive 130 runs win in their opening T20 World Cup encounter in Sharjah on Monday night.

Mujeeb returned his best T20 figures of 5-20 while Rashid Khan claimed four scalps, as Afghanistan recorded their biggest victory in cricket’s shortest format.

Electing to bat first, Afghanistan achieved the highest total of 190-4 in the tournament. Najibullah Zadran struck a breezy 59 off 34-ball.

Mujeeb and Rashid ripped through Scotland’s fragile batting line-up. The Scots took a decent start as the openers George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer put on a speedy 28 for the first wicket.

Brought into the attack in the fourth over, Mujeeb removed Coetzer, sparking collapse of the opposition’s top order.

The energetic spinner then trapped Calum MacLeod in front of stumps for a golden duck. Soon afterwards, he dismissed Richie Berrington in a similar fashion.

With Scotland struggling at 30/3, Matthew Cross was caught by Mohammad Shahzad behind the stumps off Naveen-ul-Haq.

In his next over, Mujeeb sent Munsey back to the pavilion.

Rashid accounted for Michael Leask before Mujeeb shattered the stumps of Mark Watt to complete his five-wicket haul.

Exhibiting his class, Rashid removed Greaves and Josh Davey in quick successions. He went on to dislodge the bails of Brad Wheal to see Afghanistan dry and home.

Earlier, Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad gave Afghanistan a flying start with a fifty-run partnership for the first wicket.

The openers freely scored runs and hit impressive strokes all around the ground. They reached the 50-run partnership in less than six overs.

Najibullah and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (46) put together an aggressive 87-run partnership for the third wicket. Together they smashed seven sixes.

In a bid to hit his fourth six in a 34-ball knock, Najibullah lost his wicket on the final ball of the innings. He helped Afghanistan post their highest in the tournament.

In recognition of his excellent bowling performance, Mujeeb was adjudged the man of the match.

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