ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 match no 16 was played between New Zealand vs Afghanistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Black Capes registered their 4th Consecutive win in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. New Zealand also secured top spot in the ICC points table.
Here is the: ICC World Cup Points Table 2023 Update
Trent Boult and Matt Henry struck early blows for New Zealand as they defended a formidable target of 289 runs on a challenging wicket in Chennai. This pitch had troubled New Zealand’s batters in their first innings as well.
Afghanistan had high hopes for their star opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, but the 21-year-old struggled against Henry and was dismissed for just 11 runs.
Rahmat Shah was the top scorer for Afghanistan with 36 runs off 62 balls, while the other batters failed to make a significant impact. Azmatullah Omarzai was the second-highest scorer with 27 runs.
The entire Afghanistan team was eventually bowled out for a mere 139 runs, resulting in a massive 149-run victory for New Zealand.
New Zealand’s bowlers delivered an all-round performance, with all of them, except Glenn Phillips, taking at least one wicket.
Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson took three wickets each, while Trent Boult, Matt Henry, and Rachin Ravindra claimed one wicket each.
In their innings, New Zealand had managed to set a challenging target of 289 runs.
Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men have themselves to blame for the loss, as Afghanistan’s fielders dropped catches on five different occasions. These missed opportunities provided Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham with extra chances, and they rescued New Zealand from a precarious position of 110-4, building a crucial partnership of 144 runs. Phillips scored 71 runs off 80 balls, while Latham contributed 68 runs off 74 balls. Mark Chapman also played a vital role, scoring a quick 25 runs off 12 balls with three boundaries.
While Afghanistan had entered this match on a high note after defeating England by 69 runs, the loss in this game could set them back in the World Cup standings. On the other hand, New Zealand will face India next, another undefeated team, in what promises to be an exciting contest.
New Zealand vs Afghanistan Squad
New Zealand Squad:
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (c/wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner
- Lockie Ferguson
- Trent Boult
- Matt Henry.
Afghanistan Squad:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Ikram Alikhil (wk)
- Mohammad Nabi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Rashid Khan
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
