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‘Sure shot qualifiers for Super 8 stages’ – Fans react as Afghanistan defeat New Zealand by 84 runs

Four wicket hauls from Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi help Afghanistan beat New Zealand by a massive margin of 84 runs in Guyana on Friday

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New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Source-ICC)

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Kane Williamson and his New Zealand side were soundly thrashed by Afghanistan in Guyana on Friday. Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi were the stars with the ball as they ripped through the Kiwi batting line-up to give the Kiwis their worst start to the tournament. 

Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry were the only two Kiwi batters who managed to get into double figures. None of the other batters stood a chance against an inspired spell of bowling from left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first five overs of the game. 

Once Kane Williamson fell to Rashid Khan in the first ball of the 7th over it was as good as over for the Kiwis. The wily leg-spinner ran through the batting order to end the day with figures of 4/17 from 4 overs. 

Afghanistan storm to their second successive win 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added 103 runs for the first wicket in just under 15 overs. Afghanistan began slowly but 21 runs from a single over by Michael Bracewell changed the course of the match. 

Ibrahim Zadran was the first batter to be dismissed as he was bowled by Matt Henry for 44. Azmatullah Omarzai batting at number 3 smashed 22 runs from just 13 deliveries with one four and two sixes before he too fell to Matt Henry. 

Trent Boult was the best bowler for the Kiwis as he picked 2/22 which included the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 80. The knock from the young wicketkeeper and batter helped Afghanistan post a strong total of 159 on the board. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi then ripped the New Zealand top three as he first dismissed Finn Allen for a duck. This was followed by the wickets of Devon Conway for 8 and Daryl Mitchell for 5. After the fall of Kane Williamson for 9 Rashid Khan bowled Mark Chapman for 4 as New Zealand lost half their side for 43. The very next ball Rashid Khan got the wicket of Michael Bracewell for a 1st ball duck. 

Mohammad Nabi picked two wickets with the ball as he first dismissed Glenn Phillips for 18 and then got Mitchell Santner for 4. With the wicket of Lockie Ferguson, Rashid Khan picked his 4th wicket of the day.

The end of the match came when Matt Henry tried to slog Fazalhaq Farooqi for a six. The Kiwi bowler got a thick edge as Karim Janat took a neat catch to Farooqi his 4th wicket of the game and 9th wicket of the tournament. 

Here’s how the fans reacted 

 

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