Afghanistan's stunning 84-run victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Group C clash in Guyana marked a historic moment for the Afghan team, as it was their first-ever win against the Kiwis in T20 internationals.
Skipper Rashid Khan and left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi played pivotal roles in Afghanistan's triumph, each claiming four wickets. Farooqi's impressive spell of 4 for 17 included the crucial wickets of New Zealand's top-order batters, while Khan's 4 for 17 further dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup.
Chasing a target of 160, New Zealand's batting faltered, with only Glen Phillips (18) and Matt Henry (12) managing to reach double figures. The entire team was bowled out for a mere 75 runs in just 15.2 overs, a testament to the dominance of Afghanistan's bowling attack.
Earlier, Afghanistan's innings was anchored by wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who played a blistering knock of 80 runs off 56 balls. Gurbaz's innings, which included five sixes and as many fours, laid the foundation for Afghanistan's competitive total of 159 for 6. He shared a crucial 103-run partnership with Ibrahim Zadran (44 off 41 balls) for the first wicket.
Despite Gurbaz's heroics, Afghanistan's innings lost momentum towards the end, with Trent Boult (2/22) and Matt Henry (2/37) restricting their scoring. However, the Afghan bowlers' exceptional performance ultimately sealed the victory.
Tags: #T20WorldCup, #Afghanistan, #NewZealand, #RashidKhan, #FazalhaqFarooqi
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