Afghanistan Vs Canada: Zadran’s unbeaten 95 seals 82-run win as Afghans sign off on a high

Afghanistan Vs Canada ended with Afghanistan dominant in Chennai, finishing their campaign on a high with an 82-run victory. Ibrahim Zadran carried his side with an unbeaten 95 off 56 balls while Sediqullah Atal provided key support as Afghanistan rebuilt after an early wobble.

Afghanistan Vs Canada — Zadran anchors a recovery

Put into bat, Afghanistan began positively as their opening pair put on 47 before Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for 30 and the side slipped to 49/2 in the powerplay. Ibrahim Zadran then led a patient reconstruction, putting on a 95-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who contributed 44, to steady the innings.

Zadran carried his bat through the innings, finishing unbeaten on 95 from 56 deliveries. His knock was the highest score by an Afghan player in this edition of the tournament; he struck seven fours and five sixes in a well-paced performance that allowed Afghanistan to post a competitive total. For Canada, Jaskarandeep Singh was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3/52 across his four overs.

Nabi, support bowlers rip through Canadian chase

The chase began with an early flourish as Yuvraj Samra drove the very first ball from Mujeeb Ur Rahman for four, and Dilpreet Bajwa followed with a couple of well-timed maximums. Bajwa’s cameo was cut short when he was bowled by Mujeeb, and Navneet Dhaliwal lasted only one ball in what was his final international innings, departing for a five-ball duck.

Veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi made an immediate impact, removing Samra for 17 and later returning to claim his fourth wicket of the spell. Nabi struck at crucial moments, dismissing Nicholas Kirton when he mistimed a shot, breaking a rebuilding stand by removing Harsh Thaker for 30, and finishing his spell by bowling Heyliger with the first ball of his final over. Ziaur also produced a fine catch to remove Shreyas Movva in the deep. Despite a 53-run partnership between Harsh Thaker and Saad that briefly steadied the chase, wickets tumbled and Canada were 105/8 at 18. 1 overs. The remaining deliveries brought little change as Afghanistan wrapped up an 82-run victory.

The result ensured Afghanistan closed out their World Cup campaign on a confident note, with Zadran’s carry-through innings and Nabi’s timely bowling standing out as the decisive contributions in the match.