In the ongoing World Cup 2023, New Zealand continued to assert their dominance with a commanding 149-run victory over Afghanistan. The thrilling clash, held at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium, showcased New Zealand’s cricketing prowess as they maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament.
New Zealand, led by their skipper Trent Boult, set a formidable target of 289 runs for Afghanistan to chase. However, the Afghan side faced an uphill battle right from the start, with their top-order batsmen succumbing to the relentless pressure exerted by New Zealand’s pace attack.
In an impressive display of skill and precision, Trent Boult and Matt Henry combined to make early inroads into Afghanistan’s batting lineup. The formidable target and a challenging pitch made it tough for the Afghan batters to find their rhythm. Notably, the highly anticipated star opener for Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, struggled against Matt Henry’s fiery deliveries, managing just 11 runs before his dismissal.
Rahmat Shah emerged as the top-scorer for the Afghan side, contributing a gritty 36 runs off 62 deliveries. Unfortunately, the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide the required support. Azmat Omarzai was the second-highest scorer with 27 runs, but the team, as a whole, faced an uphill struggle against New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack.
As the match progressed, the entire Afghanistan team was bowled out for a mere 139 runs, conceding a substantial 149-run victory to New Zealand. The victory propelled New Zealand to the summit of the points table, amassing a total of eight points from their flawless four-match winning streak.
New Zealand’s bowlers, including Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson, stood out with exceptional performances, each taking at least one wicket, except for Glenn Phillips. Boult, Henry, and Rachin Ravindra claimed one wicket each, showcasing a well-rounded bowling effort.
In the batting department, New Zealand’s innings saw a significant partnership between Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham, which proved crucial in rescuing the Kiwis from a precarious position at 110-4. Phillips played an influential knock, amassing 71 runs off 80 deliveries, while Latham contributed 68 runs off 74 balls. Mark Chapman’s quick-fire innings added to Afghanistan’s woes, as he scored 25 runs off just 12 balls, featuring three boundaries.
Despite a brief period of respite for Afghanistan when Azmat Omarzai picked up two quick wickets in a single over, their dropped catches came back to haunt them. Afghanistan had entered the match on a high note, having previously defeated England by a convincing margin. However, their loss to New Zealand serves as a stark reminder of the competitive nature of the World Cup.
Looking ahead, New Zealand is now set to face India, another undefeated team in the tournament, in a match that promises to be a thrilling encounter for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
