Bengaluru erupted with excitement as Afghanistan delivered a commanding performance in the opening warm-up match for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, thrashing Scotland by 61 runs at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss on Monday, Afghanistan posted a formidable 184 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings got off to a shaky start with early dismissals of Gulbadin Naib for 3 and Sedikullah Atal for 6, leaving them at 20 for 2.
Darvish Rasuli then steadied the ship, forging a crucial 82-run third-wicket partnership with Ibrahim Zadran off 54 balls. Zadran departed after a gritty 36 off 32 balls, featuring one six and two fours, pushing the score past 100.
Rasuli took charge thereafter, unleashing a blistering 84 off 46 balls, adorned with 5 sixes and 7 fours, before retiring out. Mohammad Nabi chipped in with a quickfire 34 off 16 balls, setting a challenging target.
Scotland’s bowlers Brad Wheel and Mark Watt claimed 2 wickets each, while Brad Currie snared one.
Chasing 185, Scotland crumbled to 123 all out in 19.3 overs. George Munsey and Michael Jones opened with a 24-run stand in 4.3 overs, Munsey scoring 13. Jones and Brandon McMullen added 29 for the second wicket, but the middle order collapsed.
Matthew Cross made 21 and Mark Watt 15, but it wasn’t enough. Azmatullah Omarzai starred with 3 wickets, supported by Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Mohammad Nabi with 2 each. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Gulbadin Naib picked up one apiece.
This emphatic victory boosts Afghanistan’s confidence heading into the T20 World Cup preparations, showcasing their batting firepower and bowling depth against a resilient Scottish side.