New Zealand vs Afghanistan 2024 T20 World Cup HighlightsÂ
Afghanistan recorded one of their finest wins in history after making an accomplished side like New Zealand look like utter novices. There was an air of dominance, and apart from the win and points, the performance might just be the one that finally helps Afghanistan escape the 'underdog' and 'minnows' tags.
The subcontinent side had won a lot of hearts and critics over with their spirited set of displays at the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, many still doubted the overall balance and ability to play under pressure. Skipper Rashid Khan had outright stated that the team is not entirely reliant on spinners anymore, and after a couple of matches, the scoreboards proves the same.
Afghanistan were put into bat first and the in-form duo had the challenging ask of being up against Trent Boult and the new ball. Runs did come at a quick rate for the batting side, but it was a streaky start to be fair. The batters had to deal with a lot of edges and play-and-misses, while New Zealand were left to deal with missed chances, particularly a dropped catch by Finn Allen. Conway's wicket-keeping also came into the spotlight after he missed a stumping and run out.
To the openers' credit, they made most of the reprieves and made New Zealand pay for those mistakes. They settled for only 56 runs in the first 10 overs, but proceeded to explode in the latter half of the innings. The duo announced their gear shift with three sixes in the 11th over off Bracewell.
Trent Boult, who had to be brought back for his third over in a bid for a breakthrough, was also not spared. Gurbaz casually walked down the ground and slammed a shortish delivery straight down the ground for a six. It was more than just a shot of authority, it was a stroke that marked the turn in tide, one which New Zealand ended up sinking in.
Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed after putting on over 100 runs for the opening wicket with Gurbaz, but he had done his job. Omarzai's flashy strokes helped a great deal in Afghanistan's efforts to post an above par total. Much like a candle's last burst of flame before flicking off, Gurbaz demolished Daryl Mitchell in the penultimate over.
Trent Boult eventually did get the better of Gurbaz, and much to the pacer's credit, he was the first one to applaud the match-winning innings.
Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi put in a serious shift with the ball to signal New Zealand's downfall
New Zealand had a decent chance at the total at the halfway point of the match, but any hope that lingered about was evaporated inside the powerplay itself. Finn Allen's brainfade first-ball golf swing left the stumps shattered and set the tempo for Fazalhaq Farooqi and Afghanistan to build upon.
The Blackcaps never looked comfortable during the run chase with no approach, no momentum and no hold over the conditions at all. The best chance for the Blackcaps was to have Kane Williamson around, anchoring, knocking and going about his business while the others create momentum and pass it around. However, no such plan ever seemed to take shape, and even if there was, it crashed and burned to the ground after Williamson handed a dolly to slip right after the powerplay.
New Zealand have been defeated in the past, they have even been outplayed in the past to an extent as well, but they might have never looked this helpless before. Rashid Khan took over from Fazalhaq Farooqi and it was fitting that he got a strike because New Zealand fell like bowling pins, before they could even comprehend what was happening to them.
Rashid Khan struck thrice in his first eight deliveries to squander all hopes, and even the last remaining hope was quashed as Glenn Phillips holed out in the 10th over. Post that, it was all about lower order's effort to delay the inevitable embarrassment for as long as possible, and they hung around as much as they could, but there were still close to five overs remaining after New Zealand bowed out for 75 runs.
It was a sad sight to see the Blackcaps silently accept their fate, and if this does not end their jet lag woes, nothing will, because wake-up calls like these do not come around much often.