Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
16 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | UGA: 58/10 (126 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 3.62, RRR: 31.50)

  • Cosmas Kyewuta2 (2b)
  • Rashid Khan4-0-12-2
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi4-0-9-5

12:15am Right. That will be a wrap from us for this game. The matches come thick and fast in the T20 World Cup and in about ten hours from now, England will begin their T20 World Cup defence against Scotland. Do join us for that encounter too. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) saying goodbye on behalf of Ranjith, Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain: The kind of start we wanted as a team. Does not matter who we play, it is about the mindset. The hard work we have done in the last few weeks, the way the openers started and the way our bowlers bowled - it was a great overall team effort. (On leading the team) Super exciting, proud feeling to be leading the team in the World Cup. Enjoying it so far, and have some tough games coming up. That is the beauty of this team. We have so many options and that makes it easy as a captain. Some bowlers, if they don't have a good day, we have options. Good thing is they always deliver. Lucky to have those bowlers who are happy to bowl in any stage. Last World Cup (ODI WC in 2023), that gave us so much confidence. That gave us the belief that we are capable of beating any side at any time. It is not just about the skill and the talent, it is also about the belief, and concentrating on what we are doing rather than thinking of what the opposition is doing. (On facing NZ) Big game for us. It is about keeping things simple.

Brian Masaba, Uganda captain: Pretty special moment for us, hearing our national anthem and seeing our flag at the World Cup. Something I will cherish for the rest of my life. First game at the World Cup, lot of nerves. Good to get that out of the way. We will look to come out and play better next game. Once the game starts, not a lot of time to think and feel stuff. They got off to a pretty good start and then it was about fighting back. It was very important how we fought back and full credit to the boys for that. (On what they are taking away from this match) Full credit to Afghanistan. They are one of the top bowling sides in the world, tough to get away. We did not bat at 100% and we can do better than this. We will look to bounce back against PNG.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Player of the Match: I have missed it (getting the hat-trick) a few times (smiles). Something that is not under my control and if I get a chance again, I will try to get that hat-trick. I tried to bowl a few balls and then see what was happening. I tried to make the most of the swing early on. Later, I tried to bowl the slower balls and mix it up. Kept it simple and wanted to hit the wickets. Playing franchise cricket helps you improve and helps on the big stage as well. Playing with so many big players, it helps in dealing with pressure and in bowling in the right areas.

Sampath tells me that there have been six 100-plus run margin wins in men's T20 World Cup - two each by South Africa and Afghanistan, and two by the rest.

11:50pm A one-sided game, and a tough first day at school for Uganda. There were promising patches in the first innings, but the second innings ended up illustrating the gulf in quality and experience.

Uganda had no answer to Farooqi's swing and Naveen's accuracy inside the powerplay, losing as many as five wickets in the first six overs. Rashid finally got into the act towards the end, although this evening, from a bowling POV, belonged to Farooqi, who bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in T20I cricket.

Coming back to Uganda, there was not much to write home about. However, they might look at this as a steep learning curve and use this to prepare better for the games that lie ahead. Only two of their batters returned double-digit scores, with extras being the third-highest scorer. And that perhaps sums up the kind of initiation Uganda had.

15.6
W
Rashid Khan to Ssenyondo, OUT, Rashid inflicts the final blow! Beautifully-disguised googly, bowled on a length just outside off. Ssenyondo has no clue about this and goes searching for it, leaving a huge gap between bat and pad. The ball bursts through and smashes into off stump. All smiles for Afghanistan, and they secure a 125-run win to get their campaign underway!

H Ssenyondo b Rashid Khan 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Ssenyondo is the last batter in. Can Rashid finish it off? Slip in place

15.5
W
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, OUT, that looks plumb! Googly on a length on off. Bilal, having not had enormous success with the conventional, now tries the reverse, rather ambitiously. Makes a complete hash of it and gets thumped on the front pad in front of off stump. Kumar Dharmasena gives it out but we go upstairs for a final ratification. No bat involved, and Ball Tracking has the ball smashing into middle stump, two-thirds of the way up!

Bilal Hassun lbw b Rashid Khan 8 (18m 16b 1x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

15.4
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, length outside off. Bilal moves across and has another of those wild slogs. Gets pinged on the back leg
15.3
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, googly on a length on middle and off. Spins back into Bilal and raps him on the front pad, with the batter having advanced. Was perhaps going down leg
15.2
2
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, 2 runs, full on middle and off. Bilal skips down the track and heaves it towards deep mid wicket
15.1
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, big appeal, and given this time! Bilal has reviewed it immediately, though! Fizzed through on a length on middle and off. This is the leg-spinner and it turns away just enough to beat the bat and smack Bilal on the back leg. The swiftness of the review, however, suggests there might have been bat involved. That is indeed the case. A big outside edge, and Bilal stays!

END OF OVER:
15 | 2 Runs | UGA: 56/8 (128 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 3.73, RRR: 25.60)

  • Bilal Hassan6 (11b)
  • Cosmas Kyewuta2 (2b)
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi4-0-9-5
  • Rashid Khan3-0-10-0

Farooqi finishes with a spell of 4-0-9-5, which is the best at this year's T20 World Cup so far

14.6
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, 1 run, full and wide outside off. Bilal reaches out for it and clinks it towards deep cover point
14.5
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, no run, off-pace on a back of a length on leg stump. Bilal walks down the track and whooshes across the line. Misses it by a mile and the ball somehow misses leg stump too!
14.4
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, no run, yorker on off stump. Bilal sits deep in his crease and squeezes it out towards the bowler
14.3
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, no run, full just outside off. Bilal walks across his stumps and tries to hit it into next week. Only connects with fresh air
14.2
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, no run, wide yorker nailed to perfection. Bilal cannot get his bat down in time
14.1
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kyewuta, 1 run, length outside off. Kyewuta comes half forward and pushes it towards deep cover point

Farooqi to bowl out. Over the wicket now

END OF OVER:
14 | 6 Runs | UGA: 54/8 (130 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 3.85, RRR: 21.66)

  • Bilal Hassan5 (6b)
  • Cosmas Kyewuta1 (1b)
  • Rashid Khan3-0-10-0
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi3-0-7-5
13.6
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, this is fuller, just outside off. Bilal fails to make contact with another wild slog. The ball clips the back leg and Afghanistan appeal. Impact again seemed an issue and the umpire was right to turn down the appeal
13.5
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, full just outside off. Bilal continues swinging like a rusty gate and gets pinned on the back leg again. Impact seemed to be outside the line but Afghanistan have reviewed it nevertheless. The initial assessment was indeed right. Impact just outside the line and Bilal survives!
13.4
4
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, FOUR, oh, hello! Length on middle and leg. Bilal shuffles across his stumps early and smashes it behind square on the leg side!
13.3
0
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, no run, length on off. Bilal comes forward tentatively and blocks
13.2
1
Rashid Khan to Kyewuta, 1 run, floated up full on off. Kyewuta comes forward and stabs it past short mid wicket
13.1
1lb
Rashid Khan to Bilal Hassun, 1 leg bye, length just outside off. Bilal walks across his stumps and has a swipe across the line. Misses it completely and the ball deflects off the back leg behind point

Here's Rashid again

END OF OVER:
13 | 1 Run 3 Wkts | UGA: 48/8 (136 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 3.69, RRR: 19.42)

  • Bilal Hassan1 (1b)
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi3-0-7-5
  • Mujeeb Ur Rahman3-0-16-1
12.6
W
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Obuya, OUT, another nick, and another wicket for Farooqi! Shortish outside off. Skids off the surface and Obuya, who dangles his bat, gets a healthy edge. Gurbaz claimed the catch, having dived forward but the umpires just want to be sure if this has carried. No doubt about the edge. And no doubt on the fairness of the catch either. Gloves well under the ball, and Farooqi has his first five-wicket haul in T20I cricket!

R Obuya c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Fazalhaq Farooqi 14 (42m 25b 0x4 1x6) SR: 56.00

12.5
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Obuya, no run, off-cutter on a back of a length just outside off. Grips in the surface and deviates away. beating Obuya on the outside
12.4
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Obuya, no run, bumper on off. Obuya picks the length early enough and ducks under it. That did not bounce as high as he might have expected
12.3
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Bilal Hassun, 1 run, dug into the track on middle and off. Bilal hoicks it away towards deep square leg to stave off the hat-trick threat and get off the mark

Farooqi on a hat-trick again. Can he get it this time? Bilal on strike. Farooqi stays around the wicket

12.2
W
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Masaba, OUT, edged and taken! Two in two for Farooqi for the second time this evening! Length ball hung up way outside off. Masaba goes chasing after it but does so without any real footwork. Nicks it through to Gurbaz, who makes no mistake this time. Afghanistan inch closer to a massive win!

B Masaba c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Fazalhaq Farooqi 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Captain Masaba walks in. Farooqi goes around the wicket

12.1
W
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Riazat Ali Shah, OUT, castled! Cutter on a back of a length. Pitches just outside leg and continues on with the angle. Riazat does not quite pick it and has an airy swing at it. Makes no contact whatsoever and hears the death rattle soon after as the ball clips the top of middle. Farooqi has three, and he is thoroughly enjoying himself tonight!

Riazat Ali Shah b Fazalhaq Farooqi 11 (56m 34b 0x4 0x6) SR: 32.35

Uganda 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4S SsesaziRB Patel
2nd0RG MukasaS Ssesazi
3rd4S SsesaziRiazat Ali Shah
4th10DM NakraniRiazat Ali Shah
5th0Riazat Ali ShahAR Ramjani
6th29Riazat Ali ShahR Obuya
7th0B MasabaR Obuya
8th1Bilal HassunR Obuya
9th10C KyewutaBilal Hassun
10th0H SsenyondoC Kyewuta

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33062.017
AFG3214-0.305
AUS3122-0.331
BAN3030-1.709
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33060.599
ENG32141.992
WI31220.963
USA3030-3.906
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND43071.137
USA42150.127
PAK42240.294
CAN4123-0.493
IRE4031-1.293
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS44082.791
ENG42153.611
SCOT42151.255
NAM4132-2.585
OMA4040-3.062
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44083.257
AFG43161.835
NZ42240.415
UGA4132-4.51
PNG4040-1.268
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44080.47
BAN43160.616
SL41230.863
NED4132-1.358
NEP4031-0.542