Another major upset of T20 WC, Afghanistan defeat NZ

Providence: Afghanistan pulled off another upset in the 14th match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Men’s World Cup, bowling out New Zealand for 75 runs in defense of 160 runs.

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first against Afghanistan. The Afghan openers provided a brilliant start of 103 runs against New Zealand and the team scored 159 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

First innings

Ibrahim Zardan played an innings of 44 runs off 41 balls while Rahmanullah Garbaz scored 80 runs off 56 balls with the help of five sixes and five fours and got out in the last over of the innings.

Afghanistan's first wicket fell for 103 runs in the 14th over when Ibrahim Zardan was bowled by Henry.

The second player to get out was Azmatullah Umarzai who scored 22 runs off 13 balls. Mohammad Nabi, who came after him, went back to the pavilion without opening his account, captain Rashid Khan was run out on the score of six.

Gulbuddin Naib, who came to bat at number seven, could not score any runs, while Karim Jannat and Najeebullah Zardan scored one run each and remained not out.

Thus, the Afghan team scored 159 runs for the loss of six wickets in the scheduled 20 overs.

For New Zealand, Trent Boult and Matt Henry took two wickets each while Ferguson managed to get a wicket.

Second innings

In pursuit of Afghanistan's target of 160 runs, New Zealand opener Finn Allen was dismissed for no runs by Fazl Haq Farooqi and returned to the pavilion.

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips led the way with 18 runs and Matt Henry scored 10 runs, while none of the remaining batsmen got into double figures.

In defense of 160 runs against New Zealand, Afghan bowler Fazal Haq took four wickets for 17 runs in 3.2 overs while Rashid Khan also dismissed four players for 17 runs in his four overs.

Mohammad Nabi got two wickets by giving 16 runs in four overs while Noor Ahmed and Naveen-ul-Haq failed to get any wickets.

The two teams from Group C of the T20 World Cup were competing at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.