Afghanistan completed an impressive 84-run win against New Zealand in Guyana, thanks in large part to the ongoing explosive play of Fazalhaq Farooqi at the T20 World Cup. Farooqi destroyed the top order of the Black Caps after going five for nine in the first match against Uganda.
In the team’s second convincing win of the competition, Afghanistan’s skipper Rashid Khan got four wickets for seventeen. New Zealand was bowled out for seventy-five in fifteen and two overs, which is their second-lowest total in men’s T20 World Cup history. Afghanistan now leads Group C with a net run rate of +5.225 after the crushing victory.
Afghanistan amassed a decent 159 for six after Kane Williamson chose to field first. The opening pair, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadran (44), put up 103 for the first wicket in 14.3 overs.
Trent Boult, a left-arm fast bowler, took the new ball with Lockie Ferguson starting at the other end. Boult gave up three consecutive boundaries to Zadran, two of which were from streaky drives that sailed down to third man and fine leg, respectively.
Finn Allen dropped Zadran on the square-leg boundary as he seemed to loose a lofted hook in the lights with the batsman on 13. Disappointment mounted for New Zealand because Gurbaz had already been let free when he dabbed the ball to third man, went off for a single, and was out of his crease when he was brought back. However, wicketkeeper Devon Conway could not collect the return throw.
With Afghanistan at 55 for 2, the Black Caps would have been content at halftime, but the two openers immediately launched an offensive. Following Trent Boult’s comeback, Gurbaz smashed another six after Trent Boult, an off-spinner, was caught by Zadran twice.
Matt Henry ultimately removed Zadran from the game, and Henry also removed Azmatullah Omarzai from the game when he was caught by Lockie Ferguson for 22 runs.
In the last over, Boult came back and claimed two wickets, including Gurbaz’s most sought-after scalp.
When Allen was bowled leg stump by a delivery from Farooqi that jagged back off the seam, the Black Caps were in danger right away. Conway, his opening partner, came next for eight, and Daryl Mitchell was caught for five, so New Zealand finished at a ridiculous 28 for three.
In his first over, Rashid got rid of Mark Chapman for four runs and Michael Bracewell with his subsequent delivery. Then Williamson was out of the game, caught at slip for nine by the spinner.
The biggest opposition came from Glenn Phillips, but Farooqi came back to finish the innings when he had Matt Henry caught in the deep. With a loss that leaves them with little chance of recovery to advance to the Super Eight stage, the left-armer concluded with four for 17, matching Rashid’s stats.
Now, Afghanistan will try to win three straight against Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, while New Zealand will play a vital match against the West Indies in Trinidad the following day.
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in Texas to start their campaign on a positive note. With 125 runs needed to win, two wickets in two balls produced a tense finale, but Mahmudullah’s seasoned leadership carried them through.
Pathum Nissanka, who struck 47 from 28 balls and smacked seven fours and a six, gave the Sri Lankan innings a solid foundation. However, after losing a spate of late wickets at 100 for 3, the batting collapsed to 124 for 9. Rishad Hossain got three for 22, and Mustafizur Rahman took three for 17.
Bangladesh’s response got off to a poor start as they were reduced to 28 for three after losing both of their openers in the first two overs. With four sixes in a row, Towhid Hridoy stormed to 40 off 20 balls and put up 63 with Liton Das, who reached 36 from 38 deliveries.
They seemed to be coasting to win with only 12 needed from the last three overs until Nuwan Thushara, who ended with four for 18, came back to grab two wickets in quick succession. Mahmudullah calmed everyone down by leading his team home with an over remaining and finished at 16 not out.
Read More: T20 World Cup 2024: WI Tweaker Akeal Hosein Arm-Ball Floors Uganda
