Afghanistan thrash New Zealand in T20 World Cup

Afghanistan's bowlers took full advantage of a pitch that aided both pace and spin at Providence Stadium on Friday, dismissing New Zealand for 75 in 15.2 overs and leading their team to an 84-run victory in the T20 World Cup.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's captain and spin bowler, took four for 17 in his team's second decisive victory of the tournament; they defeated Uganda by 125 runs at the same venue on Tuesday and currently lead Group C.

After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson chose to field first, Afghanistan reached a respectable 159 for six from 50 overs, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadrau (44) putting on 103 for the first wicket in 14.3 overs.

Trent Boult, a left-arm pace bowler, took the new ball, with Lockie Ferguson opening from the other end, and conceded three consecutive boundaries to Zadrau, two of which were streaky shots that flew down to fine leg and third man, respectively.

Finn Allen dropped Zadrau on the square leg boundary after a lofted hook that he appeared to lose in the lights, with the batsman on 13.

Gurbaz had already been given a break when he dabbed the ball to third man, took off for a single, and was out of his crease when he was sent back, but wicketkeeper Devon Conway failed to catch the return.

New Zealand would have been reasonably pleased at the halfway point with Afghanistan on 55 for two, but the two openers then went on the attack.

Zadrau hit off-spinner Michael Bracewell for two sixes, and Gurbaz smashed Boult for another six when the pace bowler returned.

Matt Henry bowled Zadrau, and Henry took another wicket when Lockie Ferguson caught Azmatullah Omazari for 22. Boult returned to take two wickets in the final over, including a run out.

New Zealand were immediately in trouble when Finn Allen was bowled leg stump by a ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi that jagged back off the seam with the first ball of their innings.

His opening partner Devon Conway scored eight runs, and Daryl Mitchell was caught behind for five, leaving New Zealand at 28 for three.

Khan took the ball and struck in his first over, dismissing Mark Chapman for four and Michael Bracewell on the next delivery.

He then dismissed his opposite number, Williamson, who was caught at slip, and New Zealand were all out after 15.2 overs, their second-lowest T20 score ever.

SportsLigue