Afghanistan: delivered a major upset in the T20 World Cup by defeating New Zealand by 84 runs
at the Providence Stadium. Afghanistan's bowlers, led by Rashid Khan who took 4 for 17, skittled New Zealand for a mere 75 runs in 15.2 overs. Earlier,
Afghan openers:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80)
Ibrahim Zadran (44)
set up a solid foundation, allowing Afghanistan to post 159 for 6 in 20 overs. New Zealand struggled from the start, losing key wickets rapidly and failing to recover
Afghanistan's bowlers took advantage of a pitch helping both speed and twist to the full at the Provision Arena on Friday as they skittled New Zealand for only 75 from 15.2 overs and bowled their group to a 84 run triumph in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan skipper and twist bowler Rashid Khan took four for 17 in his group's second unequivocal triumph in the competition; they crushed Uganda by 125 runs at a similar scene on Tuesday and are on top of Gathering C.
After New Zealand commander Kane Williamson chose for field first, Afghanistan came to a decent 159 for six from their 20 overs, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadrau (44) putting on 103 for the principal wicket from 14.3 overs.
Left-arm pace bowler Trent Boult took the new ball, with Lockie Ferguson opening from the opposite end, and surrendered three limits in succession to Zadrau, two of them from smudgy shots that flew down to separately fine leg and third man
Zadrau was dropped on the square leg limit by Finn Allen from a hurled snare that he seemed to lose in the lights with the batsman on 13.
Gurbaz had previously gotten a let-off when he spotted the ball to third man, took off for a solitary and was out of his wrinkle when he was sent back, yet wicketkeeper Devon Conway couldn't get the return.
New Zealand would in any case have been sensibly cheerful at the midway stage with Afghanistan on 55 for two, yet the two openers then, at that point, went on the charge. Zadrau hit off-spinner Michael Bracewell for a support of sixes and Gurbaz broke Boult for another six when the speed bowler returned.
The Kiwis at long last took a wicket when Matt Henry bowled Zadrau, with Henry requiring a second wicket when Azmatullah Omazari was gotten by Lockie Ferguson for 22. Boult got back to take two wickets in the last over with a runout.
New Zealand were promptly in a difficult situation when they lost Finn Allen to the principal bundle of their innings, bowled leg stump by a ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi that barbed back off the crease.
His initial accomplice Devon Conway followed for eight and Daryl Mitchell was gotten behind for five leaving New Zealand at a parlous 28 for three. Khan took the ball and struck in his first finished, excusing Imprint Chapman for four and Michael Bracewell with his next conveyance.
He then excused his contrary number, Williamson got at slip, and New Zealand were at long last all out after 15.2 overs for their second-most minimal T20 score of all time
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