5 lowest scores for New Zealand in T20s ft. 2024 T20 World Cup
New Zealand had a tough day at work when they faced Afghanistan in their opening match of the T20 World Cup on Friday, June 7, at Providence Stadium in Guyana. On a surface that was helping bowlers, it took the Black Caps 15 overs to take their first wicket after winning the toss and choosing to field first.
Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadran (44) stitched a 103-run opening stand. However, no other batter managed to score big, as Rashid Khan’s team put up a decent total of 159 in 20 overs.
In response, Fazalhaq Farooqi got rid of Finn Allen on the first ball, and from there it all went southwards for the Black Caps. NZ only scored 33 runs and lost three wickets in the powerplay.
Then came Rashid Khan, who got the big wicket from Kane Williamson on the very first of the seventh over. Not a single New Zealand batter looked comfortable as they were bowled out on 75 runs, losing the match by 84 runs.
It was the first time that New Zealand lost to Afghanistan. It was also the biggest margin of defeat for the Black Caps while chasing a target in T20 World Cups. As New Zealand got bundled on a low score, in this article, we will look at their five lowest scores in T20 cricket.
#5 New Zealand vs Pakistan in 2010 (80 runs)
After winning the first two games, New Zealand faced Pakistan in the final match of a three-match T20 series in Christchurch in December 2010. After electing to bat first, Pakistan scored 183 runs in their 20 overs, thanks to a good half-century by Ahmed Shehzad.
No one would have imagined what was coming in the second inning. The Black Caps lost their top four batters (Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Deam Brownlie, and Ross Taylor) on a duck. Scott Styris (45) was the only one who managed to spend some time at the crease, as the Black Caps were bowled out on 80 runs and lost the match by 103 runs. For Pakistan, Shahid Afridi took four wickets.
#4 Afghanistan vs New Zealand in 2024 (75 runs)
After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan scored 159 runs in the 14th match of the T20 World Cup 2024, thanks to a brilliant 80-run innings from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. In response, the Black Caps lost their opener, Finn Allen, on the very first ball.
After that, the Afghanistan bowlers were all over New Zealand’s batter. Glenn Phillips (18) was the highest scorer for the Black Caps, as they were bowled out on 75 runs. Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi were the picks of the bowlers for Afghanistan, taking four wickets each.
#3 India vs New Zealand in 2023 (66 runs)
India and New Zealand squared off in the series decider at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium in 2023. The Men in Blue won the toss and decided to bat first, and then it was all about Shubman Gill. The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 126 runs off 63 balls; he hit 12 fours and seven sixes as India finished 234/4 in their 20 overs.
In response, New Zealand lost five wickets within the powerplay and never looked in the game. Hardik Pandya led the way for India, picking up four wickets as the Black Caps were bowled out on 66, losing the match by 168 runs.
#2 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in 2014 (60 runs)
New Zealand faced Sri Lanka in the 30th match of the 2014 T20 World Cup at Chattogram. The Black Caps won the toss and chose the ball first. Trent Boult led the way with three wickets as they restricted Sri Lanka to a total of 119 runs.
However, things didn’t go well for New Zealand; opener Martin Guptill got run out in the third over, and after that, it was Sri Lankan bowlers who dictated the game. Rangana Herath was on fire; he took five wickets and conceded only three runs as the Black Caps only managed to score 60 runs, losing the match by 59 runs.
#1 Bangladesh vs New Zealand in 2021 (60 runs)
New Zealand faced Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in the first game of a five-match series in 2021. The Black Caps won the toss and chose to bat first but didn’t get going. New Zealand was bowled out on 60 runs, with Mustafizur Rahman leading the way for the Bangla Tigers, picking up three wickets.
In response, Bangladesh lost a couple of early wickets, but a 25-run innings from Shakib Al Hasan meant they were in the right direction. The Bangla Tigers won the match by seven wickets with five overs remaining.