Cricket Thriller: Afghanistan Demolish New Zealand in Guyana
Fazalhaq Farooqi’s explosive start to the T20 World Cup continued as Afghanistan secured a dominant 84-run victory over New Zealand in Guyana. The young pace sensation bowled a scintillating spell, dismantling the Black Caps’ top order, while captain Rashid Khan’s spin mastery added to New Zealand’s woes.
Afghanistan’s commanding performance hands them a comfortable lead at the top of Group C, boasting an impressive net run rate of 5.225. After being put into bat first, the Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (80) and Ibrahim Zadran (44) laid the foundation with a 103-run partnership, setting the stage for a competitive total of 159-6.
“New Zealand’s run chase never gained momentum, as they were skittled for a paltry 75 in just 15.2 overs – their second-lowest T20 score ever.”
Farooqi’s incisive opening spell, which saw him remove the dangerous Finn Allen, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell, set the tone for Afghanistan’s dominance. Rashid Khan then weaved his magic, claiming 4-17 to decimate the middle order and put the game firmly in Afghanistan’s grasp. New Zealand’s misery was compounded by poor fielding, including a dropped catch that proved costly.
The one-sided encounter underscores Afghanistan’s formidable all-round capabilities, with both their batting and bowling firing in unison. The result leaves New Zealand facing a crucial clash against hosts West Indies on Wednesday, while Afghanistan aim to maintain their unbeaten run against Papua New Guinea the following day.
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