Fazalhaq Farooqi's Five-For, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran Power Afghanistan To 125-Run Win Over Uganda

Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi produced a fiery spell after Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran's solid opening partnership to begin their T20 World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 125-run victory over debutants Uganda in Guyana. Kolkata Knight Riders opener Gurbaz (76 off 45 balls) and his partner Zadran's (70 off 46 balls) struck fluent fifties to register the second highest opening partnership (154) in the men's T20 World Cup as Afghanistan posted a challenging 183/5 after being asked to bat. Left-arm pacer Farooqi (5/9) then knocked the wind out of the Ugandan batting line up with his maiden five-wicket haul as the debutants were shot out for 58 in 16 overs.

"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," skipper and country's biggest cricket icon Rashid Khan said after the match.

The skipper, who himself polished off the tail, expressed his excitement of leading the country at a global event.

"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," world's premier T20 spinner said.

Seamer Farooqi was twice on the brink of claiming a hat-trick. He was lethal with the new ball. After being hit for a four off his first delivery, he bowled a brilliant in-swinger which clipped off Ronak Patel's bat before crashing onto the stumps. He then trapped Roger Mukasa leg before wicket with another in swinger off consecutive balls.

"I have missed it (getting the