Match Report – AFG vs NZ 14th Match, Group C, June 07, 2024

Afghanistan 159 for six (Gurbaz 80, Ibrahim 44, Boult 2-22, Henry 2-37) beat New Zealand 75 (Phillips 18, Rashid 4 for 17, Farooqi 4 for 17) by 84 runs

Afghanistan boosted their Tremendous Eight probabilities with yet one more dominating win, this time thumping New Zealand by 84 runs in Windfall. Having overwhelmed Uganda by 125 runs of their opening match, they’re now on the prime of Group C with a web run price of 5.225.

Afghanistan’s was an innings of two halves. They scored 55 for no loss within the first ten overs and 104 for six within the final ten, with Gurbaz contributing 80 off 56 balls. New Zealand, who had determined to not play any warm-up video games, seemed each bit rusty as their fielders dropped catches and missed run-out alternatives.

With the pitch aiding each seamers and spinners, chasing 160 was not going to be straightforward. However few would have anticipated New Zealand to break down within the method they did.

Afghanistan’s shaky begin

Trent Boult discovered some swing within the opening over however Gurbaz and Ibrahim confirmed their intent by selecting up three fours off Henry from the opposite finish.

Each batters had luck on their facet, too. Gurbaz obtained a second life when he skipped down the observe to Santner and missed the ball, which went on to brush the leg stump however the bails didn’t budge. Within the following over, Finn Allen dropped Ibrahim off Henry on the deep-square-leg boundary.

That was not all. Gurbaz obtained one other reprieve after being concerned in a miscommunication with Ibrahim. Having taken off for a single, Gurbaz needed to retrace his steps and would have been run out had Conway not fumbled the throw.

Two balls later, New Zealand lastly appeared to have discovered success when Santner pinged Ibrahim’s pads and umpire Kumar Dharmasena dominated it lbw. However the batter obtained the choice overturned on evaluation because the ball was heading down the leg facet. Instantly after that, Ibrahim hit Santner for an inside-out 4 as Afghanistan ended the powerplay on 44 for no loss.

Bracewell, Ferguson put the brakes on

New Zealand went in opposition to the prevailing knowledge of not bowling an offspinner when two right-hand batters on the crease, and Michael Bracewell repaid that religion by conceding solely six off his first two overs.

Lockie Ferguson was much more frugal, going for 5 in his first two. He may have had Ibrahim off a slower full toss however a leaping Kane Williamson failed to tug off a one-handed stunner at mid-off. That meant whereas Afghanistan remained unscathed, they’d solely 55 on the board after ten overs.

The acceleration

Afghanistan had not hit a single six within the first ten overs, however there have been 5 within the subsequent three, together with three in a single Bracewell over as Gurbaz and Bracewell stepped on the accelerator. The pair took the facet previous 100 within the 14th over. New Zealand lastly broke by way of when Ibrahim bottom-edged a brief ball from Henry onto his stumps, after having been hit on the grille on the earlier supply.

Promoted to No. 3, Azmatullah Omarzai performed his half with 22 off 13, which included two sixes in three balls off Henry. Mohammad Nabi fell for a first-ball duck however Gurbaz stored discovering the boundary at common intervals. Nevertheless, a three-wicket, three-run remaining over by Boult stored Afghanistan to 159.

Farooqi rocks New Zealand early

Farooqi gave Afghanistan a dream begin with the ball. With the very first supply of the innings, he uprooted Finn Allen’s leg stump because the ball moved in late. Within the seamer’s subsequent over, Conway pushed at one which appeared to return slower off the floor and was caught at further cowl.

The choice to present Farooqi a 3rd over within the powerplay introduced additional rewards. This time, bowling across the wicket to Daryl Mitchell, he obtained a size supply to simply straighten and take the surface edge. Gurbaz took a regulation catch to finish the dismissal and depart New Zealand 28 for 3.

It may have been worse for New Zealand. In between, Naveen-ul-Haq had rapped Kane Williamson’s entrance pad after the batter had moved throughout to play a supply. Afghanistan despatched it upstairs for an lbw evaluation however the umpire’s name saved the New Zealand captain.

Rashid joins the occasion

Afghanistan didn’t have to attend too lengthy for Williamson’s wicket. Rashid introduced himself on after the powerplay and struck straightaway as Williamson guided one to first slip. However Rashid was simply warming up. In his subsequent over, he dismissed Mark Chapman and Bracewell off successive deliveries to go away New Zealand on 43 for six. Chapman went for a pull and obtained bowled; Bracewell was late to deliver his bat down and was lbw.

Phillips was New Zealand’s final hope. He did hit a few boundaries however was quickly caught at long-on when he tried to tackle Nabi. That ended any hopes of revival New Zealand might need had.