A determined to record their fourth consecutive win at the World Cup. Riding on fifties by Will Young (54), Tom Latham (68) and Gl...
A determined to record their fourth consecutive win at the World Cup. Riding on fifties by Will Young (54), Tom Latham (68) and Glenn Phillips (71), Kiwis made 288 for 6 and then bowled out Afghanistan for 139 in just 34.4 overs. Afghanistan, who had defeated champions England, could not repeat the heroics against an organised New Zealand and only Rahmat Shah (36) offered a semblance of fight. Pacer Lockie Ferguson and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner took three wickets each.Glenn Phillips and skipper Tom Latham stitched a 144-run partnership to poweragainst Afghanistan in their World Cup match in Chennai on Wednesday. While opener Will Young scored up front with a 64-ball 54, Phillips (71 off 80 balls) and Latham (68 off 73 balls) steadied the innings after a three-wicket burst by Afghan bowlers during middle overs. Afghan bowlers strengthened their hold on the game when Azmatullah Omarzai struck twice in the 21st over to remove both set batters Rachin Ravindra (32) and Young. Rashid Khan then dismissed the big-hitting Daryl Mitchell (1) but the Afghans were guilty of dropping several catches. Omarzai (2/46) and Naveen Ul Haq (2/48) picked two wickets each.Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi against New Zealand.New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson misses out due to a fractured thumb he sustained in the match against Bangladesh last week, making way for Will Young.Tom Latham is leading the Black Caps in Williamson's absence.Afghanistan are unchanged from their win against defending champions England.Afghanistan's surprising victory over defending champions England has elevated the team's standing, and New Zealand would be wise not to underestimate Hashmatullah Shahidi's side when they face off in their World Cup match on Wednesday.While the Kiwis aim to maintain their unbeaten streak in the tournament, Afghanistan, buoyed by their impressive 69-run win over England, is eager to create another major upset and steer their campaign firmly on track.Currently positioned second on the points table, trailing India on net run rate, New Zealand faces the challenge without their charismatic skipper Kane Williamson, who suffered a left thumb fracture during the match against Bangladesh.Despite this setback, the Kiwis draw on their successful run so far to take on an unpredictable Afghanistan team, which displayed exceptional resilience against England.In the encounter at Chepauk, where the pitch traditionally aids spin, New Zealand's batting order, featuring Will Young, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell, will need to navigate the threat posed by Afghanistan's spin trio—Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, and Mohammed Nabi.Pacer Tim Southee, recovering from a thumb injury, could be a vital inclusion.The Afghan batting, led by in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside skipper Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Ikram Alikhil, presents a challenge for the Kiwi bowlers.Trent Boult and Matt Henry's pace will be a concern for Afghanistan, while the spin duo of Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner adds an extra dimension to New Zealand's bowling attack.Although the two teams have met only twice in this format, with New Zealand emerging victorious on both occasions, the current momentum of both the teams increases the likelihood of an exciting and closely contested match.