Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck an unbeaten 95 to help Afghanistan to a crushing 82-run win over Canada on Thursday and cap off an otherwise disappointing T20 World Cup on a high.
Zadran hit seven fours and five sixes in his 56-ball knock to steer Afghanistan to 200-4 after being invited to bat first in Chennai.
Afghanistan bowlers led by veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi, with his T20 best figures of 4-7, kept Canada down to 118-8 for their second win in the 20-team tournament.
2024 semi-finalists Afghanistan failed to reach the Super Eights stage after New Zealand secured the other qualification spot from Group D, which was topped by South Africa.
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“We were well prepared for this competition, we were very close,” said Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan.
“The game against South Africa (lost in a double super over) put us on the back foot and that hurt us.”
The Afghans put up a dominant show in their last group match with Zadran leading the batting with his half-century and a 95-run third-wicket stand with Sediqullah Atal, who made 44.
It was the last match for former England batter Jonathan Trott as coach of Afghanistan after he took over the job in July 2022.
Canada were never in the chase and ended the tournament without a win in four matches.
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