World Cup 2023: New Zealand punish butter-finger Afghanistan to stay unbeaten
- By Web Desk -
- Oct 18, 2023
CHENNAI: New Zealand brought Afghanistan back down to earth, inflicting on them a heavy 149-run defeat at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium to stretch their own winning streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Wednesday.
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Three days after stunning defending champions England in New Zealand, the plucky Afghans briefly kindled hopes of another upset when New Zealand’s top order suffered a mini-collapse.
The 2019 runners-up, however, went on to post 288-6 after skipper Tom Latham (68) and Glenn Phillips (71) smashed rapid half-centuries.
They benefited tremendously from the sloppy fielding of an Afghan side, who floored four catches and blew a stumping opportunity as well to let New Zealand off the hook.
New Zealand were not as forgiving though when they returned to defend their total and bundled out Afghanistan for 149 inside 35 overs to coast to their fourth successive win in the tournament.
NEW ZEALAND PLAYING XI
DEVON CONWAY
WILL YOUNG
RACHIN RAVINDRA
DARYL MITCHELL- C
TOM LATHAM
GLENN PHILLIPS
MARK CHAPMAN
MITCH SANTNER
MATT HENRY
LOCKIE FERGUSON
TRENT BOULT
AFGHANISTAN PLAYING XI
RAHMANULLAH GURBAZ
IBRAHIM ZADRAN
RAHMAT SHAH
HASHMAT SHAHIDI- C
IKRAM ALI KHIL
AZMAT OMARZAI
MOHAMMAD NABI
RASHID KHAN
MUJEEB UR RAHMAN
NAVEEN-UL-HAQ
FAZAL FAROOQI