Mujeeb takes five after sixes rain in Afghanistan’s big win

Mujeeb ur Rahman returned the best figures of the 2021 T20 World Cup as Afghanistan thrashed Scotland in Sharjah yesterday.

The spinner took five wickets for 20 as the Afghans dominated a Scotland side who qualified from the first round convincingly last week.

For the first half of the game, it appeared as though the Sharjah Cricket Stadium of old had made a comeback, such was the glut of sixes. For the second half, it was like the batters were suddenly playing on a ploughed field.

Afghanistan had first use, and Scotland’s bowlers were defenceless. The Afghans – who regarded this ground as their home for years – heaved 11 sixes, the most of the competition in a single innings.

They included the five biggest sixes of the Super 12 phase. Hazratullah Zazai, who once hit six sixes in an over at this ground, started the pyrotechnics. The left-handed opener put two balls out of the ground on the farther side. After Hazratullah went for 44 from 30 balls, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah took up the range-hitting challenge.

Rahmanullah played at this ground for Bukhatir XI earlier this year. He hit four sixes in a knock of 46. Najibullah hit three – including the biggest of the night – and top scored with 59, as Afghanistan amassed 190-4.

Chasing such a high total was daunting enough for Scotland. Against spinners of the pedigree of Afghanistan’s, it proved impossible.

Mujeeb’s five-wicket haul included the wickets of Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington in the space of five balls in a single over.

Rashid Khan rammed home Afghanistan’s advantage, taking four wickets for nine as they won by 130 runs with nearly 10 overs to spare.