Fazalhaq Farooqi continued his explosive start to the T20 World Cup as Afghanistan wrapped up a dominant 84-run victory over New Zealand in Guyana. Having taken 5-9 in the opening win over Uganda, Farooqi blew away the Black Caps’ top order as their run chase failed to gain any momentum.
Afghanistan captain and spinner Rashid Khan took 4-17 in his side’s second decisive victory of the tournament, as New Zealand were skittled for just 75 in 15.2 overs – their second-lowest score ever in men’s T20 World Cups. The latest thumping win hands Afghanistan a commanding lead at the top of Group C with a net run rate of +5.225.
After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson elected to field first, Afghanistan reached a respectable 159-6 from their 20 overs, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadran (44) putting on 103 for the first wicket from 14.3 overs. Left-arm pace bowler Trent Boult took the new ball, with Lockie Ferguson opening from the other end, and conceded three boundaries in a row to Zadran, two coming from streaky shots that flew down to fine leg and third man respectively.
Zadran was dropped on the square leg boundary by Finn Allen from a lofted hook that he appeared to lose in the lights with the batsman on 13, and went on to make the Black Caps pay dearly. Gurbaz had already received a let off 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 was unable to catch the return throw as frustration grew for New Zealand.
The Black Caps would still have been reasonably happy at the halfway stage with Afghanistan on 55-2, but the two openers then went on the charge. Zadran hit off-spinner Michael Bracewell for a pair of sixes and Gurbaz cracked Boult for another six when the pace bowler returned.
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New Zealand finally took a wicket when Matt Henry bowled Zadran, and Henry took a second wicket when Azmatullah Omarzai was caught by Lockie Ferguson for 22. Boult returned to take two wickets in the final over including the prized scalp of Gurbaz.
But the Black Caps were immediately in trouble at the start of their own innings when they lost Allen first ball, bowled leg stump by a delivery from Farooqi that jagged back off the seam. His opening partner Conway followed for eight and Daryl Mitchell was caught behind for five leaving New Zealand at a parlous 28-3.
Rashid took the ball and struck in his first over, dismissing Mark Chapman for four and Bracewell with his next delivery. The spinner then dismissed his opposite number with Williamson caught at slip for nine.
Glenn Phillips offered the most resistance with a run-a-ball 18, while Farooqi returned to wrap up the innings when he had Matt Henry caught in the deep. The left-armer finished with 4-17, matching Rashid’s figures, as New Zealand slumped to a defeat that leaves them with little margin for error to reach the Super Eight stage.
New Zealand now face what looms as a crucial clash with hosts West Indies in Trinidad on Wednesday night, while Afghanistan will chase a third win in as many matches against Papua New Guinea the following day.
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Bangladesh opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a victory as they edged past Sri Lanka by two wickets in Texas. Chasing 125 to win, two wickets in as many balls created a tight finish before the experienced head of Mahmudullah saw them home.
Opener Pathum Nissanke provided a strong platform to the Sri Lanka innings in Grand Prairie, hitting a six and seven fours as he made 47 from 28 balls. But from 100 for three, they lost a flurry of late wickets and the innings stumbled to 124 for nine. Mustafizur Rahman took three for 17 and Rishad Hossain three for 22.
Bangladesh’s reply started badly, both openers departing in the first two overs as they stumbled to 28 for three. Towhid Hridoy went on the offensive, smashing four sixes as he raced to 40 from 20 balls as he added 63 with Kumer Das, who made 36 from 38 deliveries.
Needing 12 from the final three overs, they looked to be easing to victory before Nuwan Thushara – who finished with four for 18 – returned to take two wickets in successive deliveries. Mahmudullah eased any nerves, the former captain finishing 16 not out as he steered his side home with an over to spare. PA Media
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