Tags: ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024,
New Zealand vs Afghanistan, 14th Match, Group C at Guyana, Jun 07, 2024,
New Zealand,
Afghanistan
Published on: Jun 08, 2024
Scorecard
| Commentary
| Graphs
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first in Guyana. The Black Caps made some suprise calls in their playing XI as both Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee did not find a place. Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed for Afghanistan due to a hand injury as Noor Ahmed took this place.
Afghanistan posted a total of 159 on the board as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put up their second consecutive century stand. The duo put a 103-run partnership for the first wicket with Gurbaz making a 56-ball 80 while Zadran made 44 runs in 41 balls. Trent Boult and Matt Henry took two wickets each
Chasing 160, New Zealand kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and got bundled out for just 76. For Afghanistan, Rashid and Farooqi scalped four wickets each. Apart from them, Mohammad Nabi also took two wickets. For NZ, Glenn Phillips scored 18 runs
Afghanistan registered their first- ever win over New Zealand in T20Is as they beat the Kane Williamson-led outfit by 84 runs. The Rashid Khan-led team have won two games in a row in the tournament so far.
.Rashid Khan, the skipper of Afghanistan says it is one of the greatest performances from them in T20 against a world-class team. Adds the openers started well, they didn’t throw the wicket away and that was the time they did well to take the game deep. Shares at the halfway mark, they had set batters in so the talk was to play the natural, positive game and avoid more dot balls in the next 10 overs. Tells with the bowling unit they have, a par score is enough as all the bowlers used their skill to put pressure on the opposition. Reckons the effort was there right from the start, they way Gurbaz and Zadran opened, it gave them a lot of energy. Appreciates the way Farooqi bowled, but mentions there is room for improvement.
Kane Williamson starts by congratulating Afghanistan for the win. Adds that the opposition outplayed them in all facets of the game. Feels that their batters played beautifully on a tricky surface. States that they will review this loss and need to move on quickly as games continue to come thick and fast in the tournament. Tells that the most frustrating part was their fielding in the first 10 overs where they could not convert their chances. Further says that facing West Indies in the next game is a big challenge and his side knows that they can play better than this.