GEORGETOWN: Rampant Afghanistan mauled a lethargic New Zealand by 84 runs to grab top position in Group C at the T20 World Cup with a shock win at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday. Set a challenging 160 for win, New Zealand crashed to 75 all out off 15.2 overs to suffer their first defeat ever to Afghanistan in T20 International cricket.
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the way for the Afghans with a top score of 80 off 56 balls, posting 103 for the first wicket with Ibrahim Zadran (44) by the 15th over on the way to a good total of 159 for six following they were put in.
Fazalhaq Farooqi then followed his five-wicket opening game demolition of Uganda with the first three wickets of the Black Caps innings before coming back to claim a fourth to end the game.
Skipper and formidable leg-spinner Rashid Khan shared the bowling honours with a haul of four for 17, including opposite number Kane Williamson with the first ball of his spell to effectively conclude the match as a contest.
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New Zealand’s submission and obvious rustiness leaves the 2021 beaten finalists with a tough contest ahead, starting against co-hosts West Indies in Trinidad next Wednesday.
