Cricket

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a major roadblock after a disastrous 84-run defeat to Afghanistan in their opening match. The Black Caps, who had not played a T20I together since February, looked rusty and out of sorts in all three facets of the game.Captain Kane Williamson's dismissal, a dab straight to first slip, epitomized New Zealand's struggles. The team's fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy, with dropped catches and missed run-out chances. Their batting was equally shaky, with the ball swinging more under lights than expected.Afghanistan's bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, exploited the low bounce and skid of the Providence pitch to their advantage. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, punished New Zealand's fielding lapses and scored a match-winning 80.Former New Zealand players and experts have criticized the team's decision to opt out of warm-up games. Mitchell McClenaghan and Mike Hesson questioned the logic behind not playing any practice matches, especially given the lack of recent game time for many players.New Zealand's poor net run-rate (-4.2) now puts them in a precarious position in the group of death. They face a must-win match against West Indies on June 12, who have a healthy run-rate (3.574).The Black Caps' hopes of reaching the Super Eights now hang in the balance. They will need to improve their fielding, batting, and overall intensity if they want to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Afghanistan's stunning 84-run victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup was a testament to their unwavering belief in their own abilities. Captain Rashid Khan, who played a pivotal role with a masterful bowling performance of 4/17, emphasized the importance of self-confidence and a focus on their own skills rather than dwelling on their opponents' strengths."Now, we need to beat the teams with our own skills rather than think about the opposition and that's the only thing I have been telling the guys like just make sure we look into our skills," Rashid said after the match.For Rashid, effort is paramount, as he believes that if a team is good enough, results will naturally follow. "It doesn't matter whoever we play, it's more about how good you are, how good you're going to play and what type of energy you are coming with into the ground and that for me is very important. I don't care about the result a lot to be honest. I care more about the effort we put, that's something which gives me lots of pleasure."Afghanistan's victory was particularly significant as it marked their first T20 World Cup win over a top-tier nation. In the past, they had stunned England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup, but their T20 World Cup record had been less impressive."We haven't had those victories in T20 World Cups. We had in ODI, but in T20, I feel like this was one of the best performance from the guys," said Rashid.Afghanistan's victory was also a testament to the team's resilience and determination. They had lost their opening match of the tournament to England, but they bounced back with a convincing win over Namibia. Against New Zealand, they faced a formidable opponent, but they never lost their belief."We have a very good team, we have a very good bowling attack, we have a very good batting lineup, and we have a very good fielding side," said Rashid. "We just need to believe in ourselves and we need to play our best cricket."Afghanistan's victory has sent shockwaves through the T20 World Cup and has established them as a team to watch. They will face India in their next match, and a win against the tournament favorites would further cement their status as a rising force in world cricket.

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.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign kicks off against Afghanistan on Friday, and captain Kane Williamson is wary of their formidable bowling attack. Afghanistan boasts one of the tournament's strongest bowling units, according to Williamson, who has witnessed their growth firsthand."They have a very skillful team, one of the better bowling attacks in the competition," Williamson said. "We've seen their involvement in franchise competitions, and they're only getting better with more top-level cricket."Williamson highlighted Afghanistan's star legspinner Rashid Khan, who he has played alongside in the IPL. "Rashid is a world-class player, but they have other threats throughout their side," Williamson said.Despite playing only two matches in the IPL this season, Williamson is confident in his team's preparation for the World Cup. "I've been involved in a few IPLs now and sometimes play more, sometimes less," Williamson said. "But I'm trying to help the team as much as I can and focus on my fitness and other aspects of my game."Williamson also praised the expansion of the World Cup to 20 teams. "It's a fantastic thing," he said. "That sort of exposure is only beneficial for all teams, and anything can happen in tournament time."

Afghanistan's cricket team has emerged as a formidable force in recent years, with their bowlers, particularly their spinners, playing a pivotal role in their success. However, their captain, Rashid Khan, believes that their batting has now reached a level where they can confidently chase down targets of 200 in T20Is."In the past, we struggled a bit in batting," Rashid admitted ahead of Afghanistan's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Uganda. "Our bowlers had to do a lot more to help us win games."However, the emergence of young batters from the Under-19 ranks has transformed Afghanistan's batting lineup. "They've worked hard and gained valuable experience playing in leagues around the world," Rashid explained. "Now, we have a batting lineup that can handle targets of 200 on any wicket."Rashid emphasized the importance of mindset in T20 cricket. "As long as you have the right mindset and believe you can do it, anything is possible," he said. "We've played enough cricket in recent years to improve our skills and challenge the opposition."Afghanistan and Uganda are placed in Group C alongside West Indies, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Experts predict that Afghanistan could be among the top two teams to advance to the Super 8s. But can they go even further and reach the semi-finals?"We've been mentioned as a potential semi-finalist," Rashid acknowledged. "We take that as a positive sign. It's a big thing for us to be considered among the top four."However, Rashid remains cautious. "We don't look too far ahead," he said. "We focus on one game at a time and see how it goes. We came close to reaching the semi-finals of the last ODI World Cup, and that's where we started to believe that nothing is impossible for us."Afghanistan arrived in the Caribbean early for a two-week preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup. Many of their players have experience playing on these pitches during the CPL."Our preparation has been great so far," Rashid said. "We had a domestic T20 competition that helped us prepare as a team. We also had two weeks here to acclimatize.""We have players who played in the CPL and shared their experiences," Rashid added. "But in ICC events, you always expect something different. You have to react to the wicket's behavior."

Afghanistan's young cricket team, with an average age of just 25, is poised to make a splash at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Their breakthrough performance at the 50-over showpiece in October, where they finished sixth ahead of defending champions England, has ignited hopes for a strong showing in the United States and West Indies."In the past, our victories against bigger teams were labeled as 'upsets'," said 22-year-old opening batsman Sediqullah Atal. "But that word is no longer in the dictionary. We are now ranked among the favorites."Despite decades of war and poverty, Afghanistan's passion for cricket has never waned. "When you have the support of 40 million people motivating you, it's an incredible feeling," said 20-year-old all-rounder Nangeyalia Kharote.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has the full backing of the Taliban government, which has effectively banned women from sports. However, the ICC has allowed Afghanistan to compete in the World Cup despite their lack of a women's side.Despite the controversy, Afghanistan's cricket has flourished in recent years, with new academies, sponsorship deals, and tournament financing. Their first match at the 2024 World Cup is on June 4 against Uganda in Guyana."Our team has arrived and is playing at a very high level in a short space of time," said cricket enthusiast Afzal Khan. "They are our heroes, and they will always have a place in my heart."Captain Rashid Khan pledged: "We will shine well in this World Cup too, and match the expectations of our compatriots."Back home in Kabul, young cricketer Naseem Khan expressed high hopes for the team: "This will be the best World Cup for Afghanistan."

Gujarat Titans Face Kolkata Knight Riders in Crucial Playoff Race ClashAhmedabad, India - The Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns in a pivotal match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 9th. Both teams are vying for a spot in the playoffs, with KKR already securing a berth but aiming for a top-two finish, while GT is fighting to stay in contention.KKR's Dominance and GT's InconsistencyKKR has been the standout team of the season, boasting a formidable top-order batting lineup and a potent bowling attack. Their top four batters have all scored over 300 runs at a strike rate of over 10, a first in IPL history. Openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt have been particularly impressive, forming a solid partnership.In contrast, GT has struggled with consistency, using 23 players so far, the most in the tournament. However, they secured a comprehensive victory in their last game, which may have provided them with some much-needed momentum.Rashid Khan as GT's Key WeaponGT's hopes of countering KKR's batting prowess may rest on the shoulders of Rashid Khan. The Afghan spinner has a decent record against most of KKR's batters, including Narine, Salt, and the Iyer brothers.Gurbaz's Potential ImpactWith Salt set to depart for England's T20 World Cup preparations, KKR could consider bringing in Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a replacement. Gurbaz has a stellar record against Rashid, having scored 30 runs off 11 balls without being dismissed in the IPL.Team News and Impact Player StrategyGT may stick with the opening partnership of B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, while R Sai Kishore or Sandeep Warrier could be considered as an impact sub for Sudharsan. KKR could swap Vaibhav Arora for Nitish Rana or introduce Gurbaz in place of Salt.Players in the SpotlightB Sai Sudharsan has been a bright spot for GT, leading their run-scoring with 527 runs in 12 innings. Varun Chakravarthy has also been in impressive form for KKR, taking 10 wickets in his last four games and moving up to third on the wicket-takers' list.Pitch and ConditionsThe team batting second has won four out of six games in Ahmedabad this season, suggesting that dew could play a factor. However, GT's recent victory batting first indicates that a high score is still possible.ConclusionThe clash between GT and KKR promises to be a thrilling encounter with significant playoff implications. KKR will be looking to maintain their dominance, while GT will be desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. The outcome of this match could have a major impact on the final standings of the IPL 2024 season.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a narrow defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, despite a valiant cameo from MS Dhoni. The match witnessed a high-scoring affair, with GT posting a formidable total of 232 runs.CSK's chase got off to a shaky start, but Dhoni's arrival at the crease brought a glimmer of hope. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman unleashed his trademark helicopter shot against GT's star spinner Rashid Khan, sending the ball soaring over the boundary.Despite Dhoni's heroics, CSK fell short of the target, losing by 16 runs. However, the team's focus remains on securing a spot in the playoffs, where the Net Run Rate (NRR) plays a crucial role.Rashid Khan, who was on the receiving end of Dhoni's onslaught, expressed his admiration for the Indian legend. "Once Dhoni comes into the stadium, it's a different kind of love. We're so lucky to be playing with him," said Khan.The Afghan spinner also praised his teammates Shubman Gill and Said Sudharsan, who both scored centuries in the match. "They were amazing, we love to see them batting," said Khan.CSK's defeat leaves them in a precarious position in the playoffs race. With six wins and six defeats in 12 matches, the team occupies fourth place in the points table. They can ill afford to drop any more points if they want to secure a berth in the knockout stages.

Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings Face Off in Crucial ClashGujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, two teams with contrasting fortunes this season, will lock horns in a pivotal match in Ahmedabad on Friday.Gujarat Titans' Bowling WoesGujarat Titans have struggled to find a reliable pace attack in the absence of Mohammed Shami. Azmatullah Omarzai, Spencer Johnson, and Josh Little have failed to fill the void, leaving the team vulnerable.Chennai Super Kings' Playoff HopesChennai Super Kings, on the other hand, are in a better position to make a run at the playoffs. They have lost key pace bowlers, but their experienced batting lineup and all-rounders provide stability.Form Guide and Previous MeetingGujarat Titans have lost their last three matches, while Chennai Super Kings have won two of their last five. In their previous meeting, CSK emerged victorious with Shivam Dube's half-century and impressive bowling.Team News and Impact Player StrategyGujarat Titans may swap Sai Sudharsan for Sai Kishore or Sandeep Warrier as their impact player. Chennai Super Kings are likely to rotate Ajinkya Rahane with Simarjeet Singh.Players in the SpotlightRashid Khan, once known for his miserly economy, has struggled in recent seasons. He will be eager to prove his worth against CSK. Simarjeet Singh has shown promise with his increased pace, but he needs to prove his consistency.Stats that MatterBoth Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings have struggled with their batting, scoring slowly in the powerplay and middle overs. Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha have been particularly ineffective.Pitch and ConditionsIn Ahmedabad, chasing is preferred as conditions improve for batting in the evening. The average first-innings total is 188.QuotesGujarat Titans batting coach Gary Kirsten believes captaincy has not affected Shubman Gill's batting, despite his recent struggles.