Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: It’s a balmy evening in Guyana, the crowd’s buzzing, and two underdog nations are about to lock horns in the grandest stage of T20 cricket. On one side, Afghanistan – the warriors who’ve risen from the dust of war to become spin kings of the game. On the other, Uganda – the fresh-faced debutants, carrying the dreams of a continent on their shoulders. This wasn’t just any match; it was the 5th game of Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, played on June 3 at the picturesque Providence Stadium. Afghanistan steamrolled Uganda by a whopping 125 runs, posting 183/5 and bundling them out for a measly 58. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s relive this one-sided yet inspiring showdown. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just dipping your toes into cricket, I’ll keep it simple, fun, and full of those “wow” moments that make the sport magical.
Cricket, at its heart, is more than scores and stats. It’s about stories – of resilience, surprises, and sheer joy. This match? It had all that in spades. Afghanistan kicked off their campaign with fireworks, while Uganda learned some tough lessons on their big debut. By the end, you’d be cheering for both teams, because hey, that’s what cricket does to you.
Meet the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: From Battlefields to Boundaries
Let’s start with the stars of the show. Afghanistan’s cricket journey is like a Hollywood blockbuster. Born out of conflict in the 2000s, they’ve gone from playing on makeshift pitches to challenging giants like England and Australia. Led by the leg-spin wizard Rashid Khan, their squad blends explosive batsmen with a bowling attack that turns pitches into minefields. Think of them as the clever foxes of world cricket – not the biggest, but always one step ahead.
Key players? Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the cheeky wicketkeeper-batsman who smacks boundaries like he’s swatting flies. Ibrahim Zadran, his opening partner, is the steady hand that builds innings brick by brick. And don’t forget Fazalhaq Farooqi – more on his heroics later. Rashid, the captain, brings that cool-headed magic with his googly, while veterans like Mohammad Nabi add the experience of a thousand battles.
Now, Uganda. Oh man, their story tugs at the heartstrings. Qualifying for their first-ever World Cup by edging out powerhouses like Zimbabwe, these guys are the ultimate feel-good tale. Captain Brian Masaba, with his calm demeanor, leads a mix of youth and grit. Players like Riazat Ali Shah and Robinson Obuya bring flair, while bowlers Cosmas Kyewuta and Henry Ssenyondo dream of that one big scalp. At 43, Alpesh Ramjani was the elder statesman, proving age is just a number. Uganda’s cricket is growing fast in East Africa, fueled by community passion and sheer determination. Facing Afghanistan? It was their baptism by fire, but what a way to step onto the global stage!
The Build-Up: Nerves, Toss, and High Hopes
Picture the scene: June 3, 2024. The sun dips low over Providence Stadium, a cozy 7,000-seater in Guyana that’s seen its share of drama. Dew was already whispering promises of swing later, but early on, it was all about the toss. Uganda’s Masaba called heads and won – smart move, opting to bowl first on a pitch that favored chasing. “We want to see how it plays,” he said post-match, his voice steady despite the butterflies.
Afghanistan, favorites at 80-20 odds, arrived confident after smashing Pakistan in a warm-up. Rashid Khan, the 25-year-old prodigy, echoed the sentiment: “We’ve got belief from last year’s ODI World Cup. It’s about mindset.” Uganda? Their camp was electric. “Hearing our anthem was surreal,” Masaba later shared. For a nation where cricket battles football for attention, this was huge. Fans back home in Kampala stayed up till dawn, glued to screens.
Umpires Ahsan Raza and Kumar Dharmasena took center stage, with Adrian Holdstock as TV umpire. The air hummed with anticipation – could Uganda pull off an upset, or would Afghanistan’s spin strangle them?
Afghanistan’s Batting Fireworks: Openers Light Up Guyana
And so it began. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran strode out, bats gleaming under the floodlights. Uganda’s new-ball pair – Bilal Hassan and Cosmas Kyewuta – charged in, but oh boy, they were in for a ride.
Gurbaz, the aggressor, wasted no time. First over: a whippy cover drive for four off Hassan. By the end of the powerplay (first six overs), Afghanistan were 62/0. Gurbaz smashed 33 off 17, including a pulled six that sailed into the stands like a missile. “I just backed my instincts,” he grinned later. Zadran, cooler as a cucumber, rotated the strike beautifully, picking singles like a pro.
The partnership? A record-breaking 154-run stand for the first wicket in T20 World Cups – pure poetry. Zadran reached his fifty off 34 balls, farming the strike while Gurbaz went berserk. Uganda’s fielders chased leather, but boundaries flowed: 15 in total during the duo’s time. At one point, Afghanistan eyed 200+, with the scoreboard ticking like a happy clock.
But cricket loves a twist. Kyewuta, the lanky pacer, struck twice in the 16th over – Gurbaz holed out for 76 (45 balls, 4 fours, 6 sixes), then Gulbadin Naib fell for a duck. Enter Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, but Uganda’s skipper Brian Masaba turned the screw. His medium-pacers snared two quick wickets, including Najibullah Zadran. Afghanistan wobbled to 160/4 after 18 overs.
Yet, they clawed back. Karim Janat’s late cameo – 18 off 6 – pushed them to 183/5. Uganda’s bowlers fought valiantly: Masaba (2/21) and Kyewuta (2/25) were stars, conceding just 34 runs in the last five overs. A par score? Maybe 160. But 183? That was a mountain.
Fall of wickets: 154-1 (Gurbaz, 15.4 ov), 154-2 (Naib, 15.5 ov), 160-3 (Najibullah, 17.2 ov), 169-4 (Rashid, 18.5 ov), 183-5 (Janat, 19.6 ov). Extras: 8 (wides mostly). A solid, if not spectacular, total. Time for the chase.
Uganda’s Chase: A Harrowing Collapse Under the Lights
Chasing 184 on a dew-kissed pitch? Doable, right? Not against Afghanistan’s wolves. Fazalhaq Farooqi opened the attack, and within four balls, Uganda were tottering. First: Roger Mukasa lbw for 0. Second: binary (wait, ball): Alpesh Ramjani bowled for 0. Hat-trick chance missed, but the damage was done – 2/2 after one over!
Simon Ssesazi and Riazat Ali Shah tried to rebuild, but Naveen-ul-Haq joined the party. By the end of the powerplay, Uganda were 27/5. Farooqi’s left-arm pace was unplayable – swinging in, nipping away. Rashid Khan, introduced early, spun a web: his first over yielded a wicket, the ball turning square.
Robinson Obuya offered some resistance, grinding 14 off 25 balls with a lone six – a flat pull off Mujeeb Ur Rahman that briefly sparked hope. Riazat hung on for 11 off 34, but it was grim. Drinks at 10 overs: 38/5. The middle order crumbled: Brian Masaba edged Farooqi to slip for 0. By 13 overs, 50/8.
Farooqi wrapped it up in style – his fifth wicket, bowling Juma Miyagi for 2. Uganda all out for 58 in 16 overs – their lowest T20I total, and the fourth-lowest in T20 World Cup history. Afghanistan’s bowlers? Clinical. Farooqi (5/9 in 4 overs) was a beast; Naveen (2/4) and Rashid (2/12) mopped up. Mujeeb and Azmatullah Omarzai chipped in.
Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Mukasa, 0.1 ov), 2-2 (Ramjani, 0.4 ov), 12-3 (Ssesazi, 3.3 ov), 16-4 (Nakrani, 5.1 ov), 27-5 (Patel, 5.6 ov), 38-6 (Masaba, 10.2 ov), 48-7 (Obuya, 13.4 ov), 50-8 (Hassan, 13.6 ov), 58-9 (Riazat, 15.2 ov), 58-10 (Miyagi, 15.6 ov). Extras: 9. A chase that fizzled faster than a damp firecracker.
The Full Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make sense of the madness, here’s the complete scorecard in a handy table. Easy to scan, right? Batsmen bolded for top scorers, bowlers starred for the wreckers.
Afghanistan Innings (20 overs max)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) ** | c Obuya b Kyewuta | 76 | 45 | 4 | 6 | 168.89 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | c Ssesazi b Masaba | 70 | 46 | 7 | 2 | 152.17 |
| Gulbadin Naib | c Mukasa b Kyewuta | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | c Riazat b Ramjani | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | not out | 14 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Najibullah Zadran | c Ssesazi b Masaba | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Karim Janat | run out (Ssesazi) | 18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 300.00 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | c Riazat b Hassan | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 6) | 8 | ||||
| Total | 183/5 (20 overs) | 9.15 RR |
Did not bat: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Uganda Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilal Hassan | 4 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 11.00 |
| Cosmas Kyewuta ** | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Henry Ssenyondo | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Brian Masaba (c) ** | 4 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 5.25 |
| Alpesh Ramjani | 3 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 10.67 |
| Dinesh Nakrani | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 16.00 |
Uganda Innings (Target: 184, 16 overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Mukasa | lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Simon Ssesazi (wk) | c Zadran b Mujeeb | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Alpesh Ramjani | b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Riazat Ali Shah | c Nabi b Naveen-ul-Haq ** | 11 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 32.35 |
| Dinesh Nakrani | b Rashid Khan | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Ronak Patel | c Gurbaz b Naveen-ul-Haq | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brian Masaba (c) | c Zadran b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Robinson Obuya ** | c Gurbaz b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 14 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 56.00 |
| Bilal Hassan | st Gurbaz b Rashid Khan | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Juma Miyagi | b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Cosmas Kyewuta | not out | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 2, w 5, nb 2) | 9 | ||||
| Total | All out 58 (16 overs) | 3.62 RR |
Afghanistan Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi ** | 3.6 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2.45 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2.00 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Rashid Khan (c) ** | 4 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 3.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
Match Result: Afghanistan won by 125 runs. Player of the Match: Fazalhaq Farooqi (5/9).
Key Moments That Stole the Show
What makes a match memorable? Those heart-stopping instants. For me, it was Gurbaz’s sixth six – a slog-sweep off Ramjani that kissed the roof. Or Zadran’s elegant fifty, celebrated with a humble point to the sky for his family back home.
In Uganda’s innings, Obuya’s six off Mujeeb was a brief ray of light – the ball soaring like Uganda’s hopes. But Farooqi’s spell? Legendary. His fifth wicket – a yorker tailing in to trap Miyagi – sealed a five-for on World Cup debut. Reviews added spice: Afghanistan lost one early on Riazat, but Uganda’s desperate DRS on Nabi was struck down.
Post-match, handshakes were warm. Rashid hugged Masaba: “Proud of your fight.” Masaba, gracious in defeat: “We pulled back with the ball – that’s a positive.” Dew helped Afghanistan bowl unchanged, but credit their skill.
Stars of the Day: Heroes and Heartbreaks
Fazalhaq Farooqi walked away with Man of the Match, and deservedly. At 24, his 5/9 is the best T20 World Cup figures since 2016. “I dreamed of this,” he said, eyes sparkling. Gurbaz and Zadran? Their 154 stand is Afghanistan’s highest opening partnership in T20Is. Rashid? Two wickets, economy under 3 – the captain’s armband suits him.
For Uganda, Kyewuta and Masaba’s death-over heroics saved blushes. Obuya’s 14 was gritty, but the top-order implosion hurt. Heartbreak? Losing five in the powerplay – a lesson in pressure.
What It Means: Bigger Picture and Lessons Learned
This win rocketed Afghanistan’s net run rate to +5. something, putting them atop Group C alongside West Indies. Next up? New Zealand – a real test. For Uganda, it’s back to the drawing board against PNG. But hey, 58 all out? That’s fuel for fire. Masaba nailed it: “We’re here to learn and grow.”
Stats bonanza: Lowest T20WC total? Uganda joins the infamous list (39 by NED vs SL in 2014). Afghanistan’s third 100+ run win in T20WC – only South Africa matches them.
Lessons? For youngsters: Partnerships win games. For all: Bounce back. Cricket’s beauty is its unpredictability – Uganda could stun next time!
Wrapping Up: Why This Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Uganda National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Matters
As the players left the field, Guyana’s night sky twinkled like approval. Afghanistan’s dominance was clinical, Uganda’s spirit unbreakable. In a World Cup of giants, these “minnows” remind us why we love the game – it’s inclusive, inspiring, and full of surprises.
