New Zealand faced Afghanistan in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The Kiwis, expected to perform strongly, struggled and were clinically dominated by Afghanistan in the second half of the game.
Afghanistan sets a challenging target
Opting to bowl first, New Zealand’s skipper Kane Williamson hoped to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable score. However, Afghanistan posted a daunting total of 159/6 in their 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the star with the bat, scoring a crucial 80 runs, while Ibrahim Zadran contributed a solid 44. The Kiwi bowlers, led by Trent Boult and Matt Henry who took two wickets each, did their best to contain the Afghan batters but couldn’t prevent a substantial total.
Fazalhaq Farooqi’s cleans up Finn Allen
In response, New Zealand’s chase got off to a disastrous start. Fazalhaq Farooqi, opening the bowling for Afghanistan, delivered a stunning first ball to dismiss Finn Allen. Farooqi bowled a full-length delivery that swung in, beating Allen’s attempted on-drive and crashing into the stumps. This early blow set the tone for Afghanistan’s dominance.
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Afghan bowlers seal the victory
New Zealand’s batters were completely outclassed by Afghanistan’s high-quality bowling attack. Farooqi and Rashid Khan were the standout performers, each taking four wickets. The Black Caps were bundled out for a mere 75 runs in 15.2 overs, suffering a heavy defeat by 84 runs.
Rashid Khan heaps praises on Farooqi
Reflecting on the comprehensive victory, Afghanistan captain Rashid praised the team’s performance and highlighted Farooqi’s crucial contributions.
“One of our best T20 performances, especially against a big team like New Zealand. The wicket wasn’t easy to score on. He [Farooqi] has been giving us a solid base, and the way he’s bowled in the two matches has been amazing. He’s very skillful and can continue to improve,” said Rashid in the post-match presentation.
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