Chennai: In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, New Zealand secured their fourth consecutive victory in the ongoing World Cup 2023 with a resounding 149-run triumph over Afghanistan. The match, held at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium, showcased New Zealand’s supremacy as they continue their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
Opting to bat first, the Black Caps set a formidable target of 289 runs for Afghanistan, who ultimately fell short, getting bowled out in the 35th over after managing to score 139 runs.
With this win, New Zealand has surged to the top of the points table, amassing eight points from their four matches, each resulting in a resounding victory.
New Zealand’s exceptional performance commenced with their pace duo of Trent Boult and Matt Henry, who delivered early blows to Afghanistan’s run chase. The challenging wicket of Chennai proved to be a daunting task for the Afghan batters, with star opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz managing just 11 runs.
Rahmat Shah emerged as the top scorer for Afghanistan with a composed 36 off 62 deliveries, while the rest of the lineup struggled to make an impact. Azmat Omarzai was the second-highest scorer with 27 runs.
Afghanistan’s entire team was dismissed for a total of 139 runs, resulting in a comprehensive 149-run defeat. New Zealand’s bowlers put up an impressive all-around performance, with all bowlers, except Glenn Phillips, taking at least one wicket. Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson stood out with three wickets each, while Boult, Henry, and Rachin Ravindra bagged one wicket each.
In their innings, New Zealand managed to post an imposing 289-run target. Afghanistan’s fielding let them down as they dropped five catches, offering multiple opportunities to Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham, who rescued the Kiwis from a precarious position of 110-4 and built a crucial 144-run partnership.
Phillips contributed a composed 71 off 80 balls, while Latham added 68 runs off 74 deliveries. The final blow was dealt by Mark Chapman, who played a quickfire innings, scoring 25 runs off 12 balls with three boundaries.
Despite an impressive effort by Omarzai, who claimed two wickets in a single over, Afghanistan’s inability to capitalize on their chances, due to dropped catches, hampered their progress.
While Afghanistan entered this match on a high note after defeating England by 69 runs, this loss may challenge their standing in the World Cup. New Zealand, on the other hand, faces another unbeaten team, India, in their next match, promising a thrilling contest that could become the highlight of the tournament.
