Afghanistan Crushes NZ by 84 Runs
In a stellar display of cricket, Afghanistan triumphed over New Zealand by a convincing 84-run margin in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2024, held in Providence. This victory bolstered Afghanistan’s chances of progressing to the Super Eight, following their earlier win against Uganda. They now top Group C with an impressive net run rate of 5.225.
Match Summary
Afghanistan 159 for 6 (20 overs)
New Zealand 75 all out (15.2 overs)
Result: Afghanistan won by 84 runs
Top Performers:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 80 runs off 56 balls
- Ibrahim Zadran: 44 runs off 45 balls
- Rashid Khan: 4 wickets for 17 runs
- Fazalhaq Farooqi: 4 wickets for 17 runs
- Trent Boult: 2 wickets for 22 runs
- Matt Henry: 2 wickets for 37 runs
Afghanistan’s Batting: A Tale of Two Halves
Winning the toss, New Zealand elected to field first. Afghanistan’s innings was characterized by a strong opening partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who added 103 runs in 14.3 overs. This partnership followed their 154-run stand against Uganda, making them the first opening pair to achieve two consecutive century stands in T20 World Cup history.
- Gurbaz: Played a pivotal role with a brilliant 80 off 56 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes.
- Ibrahim: Supported with a steady 44 off 45 balls.
Despite a solid start, Afghanistan’s innings saw a slowdown in the middle overs due to disciplined bowling by New Zealand. However, a late surge, particularly in the final ten overs, allowed Afghanistan to post a competitive total of 159 for 6.
| Afghanistan Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 80 | 56 | 8 | 4 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 44 | 45 | 2 | 1 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 22 | 13 | 0 | 2 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Rashid Khan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 3 | |||
| Total | 159 | 20 overs |
New Zealand’s Bowling Efforts
New Zealand’s bowlers showed resilience, with Trent Boult and Matt Henry being the standout performers. They managed to take crucial wickets in the final overs to prevent Afghanistan from running away with the game.
| New Zealand Bowling | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | 4 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Matt Henry | 4 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 |
| Michael Bracewell | 4 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 29 | 0 | 7.25 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
Afghanistan’s Bowling: Farooqi and Rashid Star
Defending 160, Afghanistan’s bowlers delivered an exceptional performance. Fazalhaq Farooqi gave Afghanistan a dream start by removing Finn Allen with the first ball of New Zealand’s innings. Rashid Khan then took over, dismantling the middle order with a spell of 4 for 17, matching Farooqi’s figures.
- Farooqi: Dismissed key players early, reducing New Zealand to 28 for 3.
- Rashid: Wreaked havoc post-powerplay, taking three wickets in quick succession.
| New Zealand Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips | 18 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Finn Allen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Devon Conway | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Kane Williamson | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Chapman | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Bracewell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Santner | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Henry | 11 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Trent Boult | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | 7 | |||
| Total | 75 | 15.2 overs |
| Afghanistan Bowling | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 4 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 3.2 | 14 | 1 | 4.20 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 21 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
Turning Points
- Farooqi’s Early Strikes: Removing Allen on the first ball set the tone for Afghanistan’s bowling dominance.
- Rashid Khan’s Magic: His spell post-powerplay dismantled New Zealand’s middle order.
- Fielding Excellence: Afghanistan’s sharp fielding and catching ensured no easy runs for New Zealand.
Captains’ Comments
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan Captain): “It’s a great team effort. Our bowlers executed the plans perfectly after a solid batting performance. The opening partnership set the foundation, and the bowlers just carried that momentum forward.”
Kane Williamson (New Zealand Captain): “A tough loss. We didn’t capitalize on our chances, and Afghanistan played really well. We need to work on our execution and bounce back stronger in the next match.”
Analysis and Insights
This victory underscores Afghanistan’s growing prowess in T20 cricket. Their balanced team performance, highlighted by effective partnerships and clinical bowling, makes them a formidable side in this tournament. For New Zealand, the loss highlights the need for better preparation and execution under pressure, particularly in challenging conditions.
Looking Ahead
Afghanistan’s next match will be crucial in securing their spot in the Super Eight, while New Zealand will need to regroup and address their shortcomings quickly to stay in contention. The dynamic nature of T20 cricket ensures that every game is critical, and both teams will be eager to prove their mettle in the upcoming fixtures.
This comprehensive review encapsulates the key moments and performances from Afghanistan’s resounding victory over New Zealand, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the T20 World Cup 2024.
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