afghanistan vs canada: Zadran’s 95 powers Afghanistan to dominant finish
Afghanistan ended their World Cup campaign on a high on Thursday (ET), producing a one-sided performance in Chennai as Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 95 anchored an 82-run victory over Canada. The result capped a day when other Group fixtures also favoured unbeaten sides, with West Indies and Zimbabwe both extending spotless starts in the competition.
Zadran’s marathon innings builds a commanding total
Put into bat, Afghanistan made a steady beginning with an opening stand worth 47, but the side slipped to 49/2 in the powerplay when their star opener fell for 30. The innings was rebuilt conscientiously by Ibrahim Zadran, who compiled a well-paced 95 off 56 balls — his best at this edition of the tournament — striking seven fours and five sixes.
Zadran stitched together a 95-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, the pair providing the launchpad for a late-overs flourish. The platform they created allowed Afghanistan to post a total that put sustained scoreboard pressure on Canada. From the visitors’ perspective, Jaskarandeep Singh was the most successful bowler, finishing with 3/52 from his four overs in a costly spell.
Canada’s chase falters as spin and experience choke the reply
Canada began the chase brightly. Yuvraj Samra struck the first ball he faced for four, and skipper Dilpreet Bajwa followed with aggressive intent, lofting a couple of early maximums. But the chase lost momentum quickly: Bajwa was bowled while attempting to make room, and Navneet Dhaliwal was dismissed without troubling the scorers, departing for a five-ball duck in what turned out to be his final international innings.
Veteran spin and tactical nous swung the contest back decisively. A seasoned all-rounder’s introduction into the attack removed Samra for 17, and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. Nicholas Kirton miscued a stroke that handed a simple catch to Zadran, and Shreyas Movva was dismissed in the deep. A brief counterattack by Harsh Thaker produced a four and a six off one over and he combined with Saad to add a 53-run stand, but that partnership was broken by a return of disciplined spin.
From there Canada subsided. The experienced spinner wrapped up a four-wicket haul to finish his spell, and a late flurry of wickets left the visitors reeling at 105/8 in the 19th over. The final eleven deliveries yielded little, and Afghanistan completed an emphatic 82-run win.
Context and fallout: unbeaten runs, a farewell and questions for the future
The day’s results consolidated the strong starts of a few teams: West Indies continued to build momentum with a win in Kolkata, while Zimbabwe secured a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo, keeping both sides unbeaten in their respective pools.
Off the field, Afghanistan’s captain paid tribute to the side’s departing head coach ahead of the final game, praising the coach’s role in the team’s development since taking charge in mid-2022. The coach’s tenure included notable highs — including deep runs in recent global events — and his exit after this match marks the end of a pivotal chapter.
That transition raises questions about the squad’s immediate future. A veteran all-rounder’s international future is now being framed as a personal decision, with selectors and teammates acknowledging that longevity in the game is an individual choice. The team will hope to balance respect for experience with the need to blood new talent as they prepare for next year’s one-day global tournament in South Africa and beyond.
For now, Afghanistan leave the T20 World Cup on a statement of intent: a dominant final display, a star batter in red-hot form, and a clear reminder that the side remains a force in white-ball cricket even as they contemplate change on the coaching front.
