Match Overview:
Arab Gul's record-breaking debut 4 for 8, Nangeyalia Khan and Abdollah Ahmadzai's combined 5-wickets gives Afghanistan registered their historic first T20I win against Japan by a comfortable 48-run in the opening match of a Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition.
Match Stats:
- Arab Gul's 4 for 8 was the best bowling figures by an Afghanistan bowler on debut T20I match, surpassing the previous record of 4 for 10 held by Noor Ahmad against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2022 and the joint ninth best-bowling-figures by any bowler on debut T20I match.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
Afghanistan scored 129-6 in 20 overs with top scorer by Debutant Mohammad Akram - who hit 34 off 29-balls including 2-sixes & 2-fours.
Darwish Rasooli cracked a 29 off 27-balls including 4-fours, Mohammad Ishaq blasted a unbeaten 25 off 17-balls included 2-fours & a six with strike rate of 147.05 and Karim Janat scored 21 off 23-balls contained 2-fours.
Japan best bowler by Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Ibrahim Takahashi both took 2-wickets and one for Reo Sakurano-Thomas - Benjamin Ito-Davis.
Japan bundled out for 81 in 19.3 overs with top scorer by Reo Sakurano-Thomas cracked a 23 off 24-balls including 3-fours.
Benjamin Ito-Davis blasted a 17 off 8-balls including 2-fours & a six with strike rate of 212.50 and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming hit 14 off 17-balls contained one-six & a four.
Afghanistan best bowler by Debutant Arab Gul - who took 4-wickets for 8-runs in 4-overs on his debut T20I match - including two maidens with economy rate of 2.
Nangeyalia Khan picked up 3-wickets for 19-runs in 3.3-overs, Abdollah Ahmadzai took 2-wickets and one for Najibullah Zadran.
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