AFG vs CAN Match 39 Highlights - Chennai (19 February 2026)

DROPPED! Oh dear. Second drop of the match. This time, by Kaleem Sana. Tossed up, outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets down and looks to play the slog sweep. He connects well but this is the longer part of the ground and he seems to have got more height than distance. Sana gets across to his right from long on and gets to the ball but somehow, spills it down! The batters pick up a couple. Massive moment.

SIX! Rub salt, pepper, piri piri and whatever you want on that wound. Floated, outside off, Ibrahim leans and lofts this inside out over cover for a massive hit!

Excellent googly now. Outside off, Zadran is early into his inside-out drive and misses. The keeper collects the ball and looks to take the bails off but Ibrahim is back in by then.

Outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

Full, outside off, Atal looks to play the reverse sweep but misses. The keeper puts in a shout for the catch but the umpire shakes his head.

Outside off, eased down to long on for one. 10 runs from the over, but could have been so different if not for that drop.

Short, around off, punched towards long off for a single.

On a length, outside off, punched straight to point for a run.

A short ball, around off, SA goes for the pull, but the ball gets big on him. Goes off the top edge towards long on, but lands just outside the 30-yard circle. By the time long on can get to the ball, the batters return for the second.

SIX! STUPENDOUS! A short ball, outside off, Sediqullah Atal accepts the freebie on the Free Hit and pulls it over mid-wicket for an 85-metre hit! The stand moves to 93 (58), with Atal contributing 42 (30) of those!

Full, around middle and leg, Sediqullah works it through mid on and charges back for the second.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sigh of relief for the Canada fans. This catch is taken. A short ball, outside off, banging it into the middle of the deck, Sediqullah Atal goes for the pull but the ball holds on the pitch a touch. As a result, he gets it off the higher part of the bat. Does not have control and hence, does not have the distance. There is elevation though and the ball goes in the air. Dilon Heyliger gets across to his right from deep mid-wicket and takes the catch. Not the most fluent of knocks from Atal but his contribution will be well noted in a stand of 95. AFGHANISTAN ARE 144/3 AFTER 15.5 OVERS!

Full, outside off, driven through the covers for a couple. As if he has carried his form from the last 2 years right into this match. Starts off in style. 15 runs from the over, but Jaskaran manages a wicket to get something off it.

SIX! The boundaries keep coming. Short, around middle, no pace to work with, Ibrahim Zadran pulls this magnificently over square leg. Moves to 70 (43).

TWO BYES. Keeper's fault. A slower ball, around middle and leg, Zadran swings early but misses. The ball goes past the stumps to the keeper, but he is not able to stop it to his left. It rolls behind and the batters take a couple.

A touch short, around middle and off, Zadran swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple.

On middle and off, worked through mid-wicket for another brace.

On a length, outside off, Omarzai punches it through mid off for a run.

TOP EDGE, LANDS SAFELY! The rub of the green is going the way of the Blue. A short ball, around off, hurrying the batter for pace, Ibrahim goes for the pull. But he gets a top edge which goes in the air. However, it lands in no human's land outside the 30-yard circle at mid-wicket! Two runs taken. 14 from the over, 39 in the last 3!

On a good length, outside off, punched through the covers for a single.

A bit too straight, on the pads, Ibrahim Zadran flicks it behind square leg for a run.

WIDE. A bumper outside off, too high and it is left alone.

ANOTHER WIDE. Jaskaran goes fuller, but this is way too far outside off. Is left alone.

On a length, outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai reaches out and slices it over point for a couple.

SIX! SMASH! Straight back down the ground! Full, outside off, Omarzai gets down on a knee and swings it cleanly over the bowler, for a biggie near the sightscreen!

Outside off, pushed through the covers for a run.

On a length, outside off, Zadran has a hack and the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket. Two more runs to the total. 15 from the over, 54 in the last 4!

OUT! CAUGHT! Another catch is taken. Azmat falls for an unlucky 13. A short ball, outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes for the pull and swings it pretty well. But the ball is at a good height and hence, he cannot find enough elevation. The ball goes flat towards long on and Harsh Thaker actually takes a smart catch near the ropes. A quickfire 31-run stand is broken.

A short ball, outside off, Darwish Rasooli pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Excellent yorker, at the toes, Ibrahim Zadran manages to dig it out through square leg for a run.

Another short ball, outside off, Rasooli pulls it through mid-wicket for one.

SIX! My word. This guy is a real treat to watch. How has that gone all the way? Full and wide outside off, Ibrahim Zadran reaches out and uses all his wrists to carve it over cover. The ball goes flat but with full power to clear the ropes!

On a length, outside off, pace off, Zadran pulls it through mid-wicket for one. 10 from the over, 64 in the last 5!

On a length, outside off, drilled through the covers for a single.

Mistimed, but safe. A short ball, outside off, pace off, Darwish Rasooli jumps down the track and throws his bat at it. Is early and skews it off the top edge in the air. The ball lands in vacant space beyond cover and the batters return for a second.

WIDE. Full and miles outside off, left alone.

For all those kids who grew up in the 90s, we used to see an advert on TV, which said, 'Goes on and on and on'. This is something similar to that. Full and outside off, excellent change of pace, Darwish swings wildly but misses. The batters go for a bye and the keeper has a shy at the striker's end. Ibrahim is well in, but the ball deflects towards mid-wicket. So the batters go for the overthrow. Now, the fielder charges in from long on and fires a throw at the bowling end and hits the stumps there too! Guess what, even that deflects away to the sweeper at cover and the batters take the third! This time, there is no direct hit.

Quicker ball, a full toss, outside off, Ibrahim Zadran swings but misses the ball!

FOUR! UP AND OVER! A short ball, wide outside off, Ibrahim stays back and throwing his bat at it, gets it over point for a boundary!

FOUR MORE! Full, outside off, Ibrahim Zadran reaches out and drills it through the covers! 79 runs in the last 6 overs and AFGHANISTAN FINISH ON EXACTLY 200, WITH 4 WICKETS DOWN!