Providence Stadium Guyana: In the 14th match of the ICCT20 World Cup, the New Zealand team suffered an 84-run upset defeat against Afghanistan in their very first match.
Chasing 160 runs, the entire New Zealand team was bowled out for 75 runs in 15.2 overs.
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan and Fazal Haq Farooqui played an important role in the defeat of New Zealand, whose spinning balls left the Kiwis batters confused. Rashid Khan took 4 wickets for just 17 runs in 4 overs. While Fazal Haq Farooqui gave 17 runs in 3.2 overs and sent 4 players back to the pavilion.
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The destruction of New Zealand’s batting line-up started on the very first ball when Kiwi opener Finn Allen was bowled on the very first ball of Fazal Haq Farooqui, Dion Conway scored 8 runs, Glen Phillip played an innings of 18 runs. And Matt Henry scored 12 runs, Kiwi captain Kane Williamson’s innings could not go beyond 9 runs.
In the match played at Providence Stadium in Guyana, New Zealand won the toss and invited Afghanistan to bat. Afghanistan scored 159 runs for the loss of wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
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Afghanistan’s openers provided a good start of 103 runs, Rahmanullah Garbaz was the outstanding batsman who played an innings of 80 runs, Ibrahim Zardan scored 44 runs. Azmatullah Umarzai scored 22 runs.
New Zealand’s bowlers, who were playing their first match in the mega-event, showed good bowling and did not allow Afghanistan to score big despite an opening partnership of 103 runs.
New Zealand’s Trent Boult and Matt Henry dismissed 2 each while Lockie Ferguson guided an Afghan batsman to the pavilion
