- Afghanistan took pole place in Group C after defeating New Zealand
- Black Caps’ T20 World Cup hopes will now relaxation on conflict with West Indies
Afghanistan thrust themselves in the direction of qualification for the Tremendous Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup with a crushing victory over New Zealand at Windfall, Guyana.
The 84-run profitable margin has put Rashid Khan’s staff in pole place in Group C with 4 factors — and a large internet run-rate benefit that can really feel like an additional level. It has heaped enormous stress on the New Zealanders forward of their assembly with West Indies on Thursday.
New Zealand, semi-finalists in every of the earlier three tournaments, are backside of the group desk, beneath Papua New Guinea, after collapsing to 75 all out when chasing 160.
‘It is likely one of the biggest performances for us in T20s in opposition to an enormous staff like New Zealand,’ Khan mentioned.
The majority of Afghanistan’s 159 for six was supplied by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s punishing 80 from 56 deliveries.
Afghanistan moved high of Group C on the T20 World Cup with a commanding win over New Zealand
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit 80 from 56 delivered to set Afghanistan on their solution to a formidable win
Wicketkeeper Rahmanullah adopted his 76 in opposition to event debutants Uganda earlier within the week by sharing a century stand for the primary wicket with Ibrahim Zadran, whose contribution was 44 from 41 balls.
Afghanistan’s first win over the Black Caps in T20 internationals was then sealed by their good bowling assault. Left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi took 4 for 17 from 20 deliveries whereas wrist-spinner Rashid replicated these figures.
Three Farooqi strikes within the energy play left New Zealand reeling and the competition was successfully over when Rashid dismissed Kane Williamson with the primary ball outdoors it.
‘They merely outplayed us in all sides,’ Williamson mentioned.
Elsewhere, Bangladesh opened their event with a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a low-scoring thriller.
That defeat in Dallas all however ends hopes of development past Group D for Sri Lanka and their English head coach Chris Silverwood.
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson admitted after his aspect had been outplayed in all sides of the sport
After Sri Lanka set the Bangladeshis a 125-run goal, they diminished their opponents to twenty-eight for 3 in reply, however Towhid Hridoy hit 40 from 20 deliveries, together with 4 sixes, to get them again on observe.
The competition took one other twist when Bangladesh slumped to 113 for eight, however Mahmudullah crunched the primary ball of the nineteenth over, despatched down by Dasun Shanaka, over the ropes and an overthrow from the final settled issues.
