🏏 “Warm-ups begin, momentum builds — Afghanistan set the tone in Bengaluru!”
Table of Contents
Match Overview
Afghanistan and Scotland locked horns today in the first warm-up match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, Bengaluru.
The encounter began at 2:00 PM IST (9:30 GMT), with Afghanistan winning the toss and choosing to bat first — a strategic call on a surface offering good bounce.
Current Score & Key Performers
As per the latest update around 4:25 PM IST, Afghanistan are placed strongly at:
- Afghanistan: 101/2 in 11.5 overs
- Run Rate: 8.50
Opener Ibrahim Zadran remains unbeaten on 36 off 29 balls, while Darwish Rasooli has played a fluent knock of 49 off 28 deliveries, smashing boundaries with ease.
The duo stitched together an impressive 82-run partnership in just 8.3 overs, stabilizing the innings after early wickets.
For Scotland, Mark Watt has been the standout bowler with figures of 3-0-22-1, while Chris Greaves has kept things tight.
Recent Match Action
Afghanistan accelerated in the middle overs, finding regular boundaries and rotating strike effectively. The recent scoring sequence shows growing dominance:
1, 1, 6, 1, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1, 1, 6, 1, 1, 2
With wickets in hand, Afghanistan now eye a competitive total in the range of 160–180 runs, which could prove challenging on this surface.
Pitch & Weather Report
Conditions in Bengaluru are ideal for cricket:
- 🌤️ Clear skies
- 🌡️ Temperature around 27°C
- 💨 Light winds
The pitch offers good bounce and pace early on, assisting fast bowlers, while remaining fair for batters who apply themselves.
Background & Match Importance
Warm-up matches play a crucial role ahead of a global tournament, allowing teams to fine-tune combinations and adapt to local conditions. Afghanistan are building on their growing T20 reputation, while Scotland look to bounce back after previous setbacks.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup warm-up, Afghanistan defeated Scotland by 55 runs, with Gulbadin Naib’s explosive 69 off 30 balls setting up a total of 178.
With experienced umpires Abhijeet Bengeri and P Jayapal officiating, the match continues under smooth conditions — and Afghanistan currently hold the upper hand as the innings progresses.
