CWC 2023, Match No: 16, New Zealand VS Afghanistan at Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India on 18 October 2023
New Zealand 288/6 (Glen Philips 71, Tom Latham 68, Will Young 54, Rachin Ravindra 32, Mark Chapman 25, Naveen ul Haq 2/48, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/56)
Afghanistan 139 All Out in 34.4 Overs (Rahmat Shah 36, Azmatullah Omarzai 27, Lockie Ferguson 3/19, Mitchell Santner 3/39, Trent Boult 2/18)
New Zealand won the match by 149 runs
Player of the match: Glen Philips (71 runs in 80 balls)
Winning big by 149 runs against giant killers Afghanistan, New Zealand proved that upset does not happen every day. Rather it happens once in a blue moon.
On a wicket having some assistance for the bowlers New Zealand batting and bowling to the best of their abilities won big by 149 runs against giant killers Afghanistan. Black caps batting first after losing the toss stuttered a lit at the start of their innings losing 4/110. But Glen Philips (71) and Tom Latham (68) putting up 144 in the 5th wicket partnership ensured that Afghan spinners could not make headways. 288/6 was a huge score on a wicket not at all easy for batting. Afghanistan did not have the batting resources to chase. Fearsome pace of Ferguson (3/19) and swing of Trent Boult (2/18) as well as penetrative spin bowling of Mitchell Santner (3/39) crashed Afghans to 139 All Out in 34.4 overs. Winning by huge 149 runs black caps consolidated the position at the top of the table.
Winning the toss Afghanistan should have batted first. They could have created pressure on New Zealand scoring 250-260 on a wicket gripping and turning a bit. They created some early pressure on the black caps reducing them to 4/110. It could be worse had Afghan fielders did not drop sitters offered by Devon Conway (6) and Rachin Ravindra (0) off the bowling of Mujeeb. At least three more catches were floored.
A team cannot expect to win against major opposition with such kind of lapses. Moreover, Afghan spin trio Rashid khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb failed to repeat their exceptional performance against England. Glen Philips (71) and Tom Latham (68) putting up 144 priceless runs for the 5th wicket laid the foundation of a match winning score of 288/6. Afghan pacers Naveen ul Haq (2/48) and Azmatullah Omarzai (2/56) were the successful bowlers.
Taking lessons from English defeat the other day Black Cap bowlers Lockie Ferguson (3/19) and Trent Boult (2/18) bowled at pace at the right channel. Flamboyant Ramanullah Gurbaz (11) and Ibrahima Zadran (14) failed to fire. Afghan innings never achieved any momentum. On a wicket where Afghan spinners could not find their tune left arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3/39) turned and tweaked. Afghans were bundled out for 139 runs in 34.4 Overs. The only resistance came from Rahmat Shah scoring 36. Winning by a huge margin of 149 runs New Zealand moved one step closer to the elite group of four.
New Zealand along with host India are the only two teams out of the ten not losing a match in CWC 2023. New Zealand will play India at Dharamshala on October 22. Their iconic Captain Ken Williamson may have to stay sitting on the bench throughout the tournament as his hand injury may not heal during the tournament.
BDST: 0900 HRS, OCT 19, 2023
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