NZ vs AFG Highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: Rashid, Farooqi, Gurbaz star in Afghanistan's big win over New Zealand

Player of the Match: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Opening batsman Gurbaz led the New Zealand batting with his knock of 80 and his 103-run opening stand with Ibrahim Zadran (44), which proved criticial against New Zealand's disciplined bowling attack led by Trent Boult. It was over then to Farooqi (4/17), who rocked NZ chase with a three-wicket opening burst, and skipper Rashid Khan (4/17) who sucked life out of the Kiwi run-chase, marking the best bowling figures by a captain in T20 World Cup history. This is Afghanistan's first win over NZ in T20Is and second in a row in this tournament, which has made them one of the favourites to qualify for 'Super 8' from Group C.

Afghanistan win by 84 runs for their first ever win over New Zealand in T20 internationals

Farooqi (4 for 17) takes the final wicket, as a skier from an edge off Matt Henry's (12) bat is safely pouched by Karim Janat. New Zealand 75 all out in 15.2 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Captain leading by example - NZ 75 for 9 in 15 overs

NZ vs AFG: Wicket No. 9! Rashid finishes with 4 scalps!

Locke Ferguson (2) lobs one straight back to bowler Rashid, who ends a splendid spell of leg-spin bowling with his fourth wicket. His figures read 4 for 17 in four overs, the best by a captain at a T20 World Cup. NZ vs AFG Live: New Zealand 63 for 9 in 13 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Out! Nabi ends spell with another wicket

Nabi cleans up Santner (4), going through the huge gap between the bat and pad. Nabi ends a brilliant spell, which reads 2 for 16 in 4 overs. NZ 59/8 in 12 overs. It's now how less badly can New Zealand lose to minimize the damage to their net run-rate which is going to be crucial to their chances to progress to the 'Super 8' stage

NZ vs AFG Live: Wicket No. 7

Glenn Phillips (18) tries to launch a counter-attack and clear the fence at long-on against Nabit, but Rashid shows brilliant presence of mind to take the catch at the edge of the boundary rope. New Zealand reeling at 53 for 7 in the 10th over.

NZ vs AFG: Kiwis six down! Two in two for Rashid!

Rashid strikes again, and twice in a row. On a hat-trick now! A loose shot by Chapman (4) sees his stumps getting uprooted and Michael Bracewell gets a first-ball duck, out lbw. The New Zealand chase is in disarray now at 43 for 6. Hat-trick saved by Santner.

NZ vs AFG Live: NZ need to re-build

Phillips (10*) and Chapman (4*) need to rebuild for 3-4 overs, but the required run-rate continues to climb and is over nine runs an over now. New Zealand 43 for 4 in 8 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Rashid strikes first ball!

The Afghanistan skipper gets his counterpart Williamson (9) off the first ball of his spell as the NZ captain is caught in the slips while trying to guide it to third man. Brilliant low catch by Gulbadin. NZ 33 for 4 in the 7th over.

NZ vs AFG Live: End of powerplay

It's all Afghanistan at the moment, thanks to the on-song Fazalhaq Farooqi, who continues to breathe fire in this tournament. The left-arm pacer has rocked the New Zealand run-chase in Powerplay, reducing them to 33 for 3 in 6 overs. Willimason batting on 9, Phillips on 4.

NZ vs AFG Live: Gone! Farooqi sends Mitchell back!

Daryl Mitchell (5) edges Farooqi to wicketkeeper Gurbaz who makes no mistake. NZ now in more than a spot of bother at 28 for 3 in the 5th over, chasing 160 to win, and Farooqi is on fire with his third wicket. Glenn Phillips is the new man in.

NZ vs AFG: Naveen ul Haq into the attack, asks question right away

Naveen struck Williamson on the pads while the Kiwi skipper tried to shuffle towards the off-side. Umpire gave not out and Afghanistan went for a review, but the ball tracking showed it would have just clipped the leg-stump. So umpire's call, and it remains not out. Williamson (8*) then gets an opportunity to free his arms with width on offer and cuts Naveen to backward point for a FOUR. NZ vs AFG Live: NZ 28 for 2 in 4 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Out! Farooqi strike again

Foxed by Farooqi's slower one, Conway (8) goes early into the drive and pays the price as he ends up pushing it straight to short cover. NZ in early trouble at 22 for 2 in 3 overs. Daryl Mitchell comes in and gets off the mark with a FOUR to fine leg. Skipper Kane Williamson at 4* on the other end.

NZ vs AFG: Mohammad Nabi's off-spin from the other end

The Afghan all-rounder thought he had Conway lbw and asked his skipper Rashid to take review, but it turned out to be a bad call as the ball hit Conway's arm outside the line of the off-stump as he tried to sweep. NZ vs AFG Live: New Zealand 11 for 1 in 2 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Kiwis set for the run-chase but rocked early

The in-form Fazalhaq Farooqi, who took 5 for 9 against Uganda, cleans up Finn Allen (0) first ball with a brilliant in-swinging full-length delivery that the NZ opener had no answer to as he went for an on-drive without any feet movement. Just six runs and a wicket in the first over. NZ 6 for 1, chasing 160 to win.

NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan set NZ 160 to win

If not for the 103-run opening stand between Gurbaz (80 off 56 balls) and Ibrahim Zadran (44 off 41), Afghanistan may not have crossed 120 considering none of the other batters could contribute as significantly in the Afghanistan innings after they were asked to bat first by New Zealand, who won the toss. Trent Boult's crafty spell (2/22) and a brilliant final over led the NZ bowling charts, appreciably assisted by Lockie Ferguson (1/28), Henry (2/37) and Santner (0/24).

NZ vs AFG: Three wickets in last over! Afghanistan end up with 159/6

A brilliant over from Trent Boult (2 for22) to end the Afghanistan innings. First Rashid (6) conceded his wicket as Gurbaz ran to the striker's end trying to steal a single to fetch the strike as the Afghan skipper missed connecting Boult's delivery. And the New Zealand ace cleaned up Gurbaz (80) off the next delivery. A perfectt yorker! And off the penultimate ball, Gulbadin Naib also goes for a duck, caught in the deep by Glenn Phillips. A single off the last ball meant just three runs in the last over. Brilliant!

NZ vs AFG Live: Surprise! Daryl Mitchell into the attack

And Gurbaz welomes the part-time with a huge 93-metre SIX over long-on. And after four singes that followed, Gurbaz (80*) ends with another monstrous SIX that lands on the roof the stand behind long-off. It's 105 metre! NZ v AFG live: Afghanistan 156/3 in 19 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Gurbaz cuts loose, Nabi falls for duck

Gurbaz (66*) welcomes Ferguson back to the bowling crease with consecutive fours, but the over witnesses third Afghan wicket falling as veteran Mohammad Nabi bags a golden duck. The top edge is caught by Kiwi skipper Williamson and Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan walks in. And striaghtaway finds the boundary, an edge that goes through the vacant slip region to the third-man fence. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 140/3 in 18 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Two sixes, and out!

Omarzai's 12-ball cameo ends at 22 as the right-hander tries to hit Henry for a third SIX in the 17th over, but is caught by Ferguson in the deep. Second wicket of the match for Henry. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 127 for 2.

NZ vs AFG: Omarzai gets busy right away

The Afghan one-down batter Omarzai (10*) makes room to hit Santner inside out over extra cover for FOUR. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 114 for 1 in 16 overs. Santner finishes his four-over spell with figures of 0 for 24.

NZ vs AFG: Played on! First wicket for the Kiwis!

Zadran (44) makes room to free up his arms in an attempt to hit the short delivery from Henry over the point region, but could only edge it onto the stumps. First wicket for New Zealand, end of the 103-run opening stand. Azmatullah Omarzai is the new batsman. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 106 for 1 in 15 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Zadran hit on the grill, goes flat on the ground

A nasty one from Matt Henry reared up on Afghan opener Ibrahim Zadran who was trying to back up but given no room by the bowler. Hit smack on the grill. The physio is on the ground to check on the batsman.

NZ vs AFG Live: Santner back into the attack, century stand raised

100-run opening partnership comes up between Gurbaz (53*) and Zadran (44*) as the left-arm spinner Santner bowls a brilliant over, just five runs off it. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 102 for 0 in 14 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Fifty for Gurbaz

After hitting Boult straight down the ground for another SIX, Gurbaz (50*) takes a single to bring up his half-century in 40 balls to continue his prolific form. Zadran batting on 43 off 38. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 97/0 in 13 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: End of 12 overs

Boundaries coming thick and fast suddenly. Zadran gets his second SIX of the match by picking Ferguson over deep backward square leg. It's a massive hit. Afghanistan 86 for 0 in 12 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Afghanistan break shackles

Afghanistan openers have been strangled with some crafty bowling from the Kiwis. So it was only time that one of them tried to break free. And it arrived in style. THREE SIXES in the over. Gurbaz turns out to be the one to start, as he hit Bracewell for the first SIX of the match. It had the fielder at mid-wicket interested. And Zadran follows suit to hit the second SIX in the over - over mid-wicket. The over ended with Gurbaz depositing the bal linto the stands once again, peppering mid-wicket boundary again. Afghanistan 76/0 in 11 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Fifty up for Afghanistan

Barring the 15 runs conceded in the second over, New Zealand have bowled well to not let the Afghan openers off the hook. Fifty comes up in 8.2 overs. NZ vs AFG Live - Afghanistan 52 for 0 in 9 overs. Gurbaz 24*, Zadran 4*.

NZ vs AFG: Lockie Ferguson into the attack, Zadran survives again

Zadran almost run out backing up a bit too much at the non-striker's end. The ball, hit hard straight back by Gurbaz, went on to hit the stumps, but Ferguson didn't get a touch on it with his boot and then tried to uproot the stumps after picking the ball that ricocheted, as Zadran slipped a little. But he is in. Just two singles in the over. NZ vs AFG Live - Afghanistan 49 for 0 in 8 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: End of Powerplay, Zadran survives scare

The umpire gave Ibrahim Zadran out LBW against Santner as the delivery bowled flat hit Zadran on the pads while he attempted a slog-sweep.The Afghan opener went for a review and the ball tracking showed it would have missed the stumps. Zadran survives, and the Powerplay ends. NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan 44 for 0 in 6 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Henry returns

Matt Henry comes back with a six-run over, after conceding 15 in his first. NZ vs AFG Live - Afghanistan 39 for 0 in 5 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Left-arm spinner Mitchel Santner into the attack

A good over that almost ended in a wicket as Gurbaz came out to attack but could only get an edge that, luckily for the Afghan opener, beat the wicketkeeper and went for a FOUR. NZ vs AFG Live - AFG 33 for 0 in 4 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Boult continues in disciplined fashion

Just four runs off the over - all singles. Gurbaz batting on 11, Zadran on 12. NZ vs AFG Live: AFG 25 for 0 in 3 overs.

NZ vs AFG Live: Matt Hentry begins bowling from the other end

Ibrahim Zadran joins Gurbaz to hit his first boundary as well, a lucky FOUR off an inside-edge that beat the diving wicketkeeper. And he followed it up with another, this time a controlled one, lifted over mid-wicket. The over ends with a third boundary, another FOUR, this time off the bat of Gurbaz to third man. NZ vs AFG Live: AFG 21 for 0 in 2 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Gurbaz starts confidently

The Afghan opener gets off the mark with a couple and then hits Boult past the man in the cover for the first FOUR of the match. NZ vs AFG Live Score - AFG 6 for 0 in 1 over.

NZ vs AFG Live: All set

Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanllah Gurbaz are out in the middle with Trent Boult ready to run in. The Black Caps would hope Boult's knack of striking in the first over of a match continues.

NZ vs AFG Live: Afghanistan Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

NZ vs AFG: New Zealand Playing XI

Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

NZ vs AFG Live: TOSS NEWS

New Zealand win the toss and opt to bowl first in their first match of this T20 World Cup

NZ v AFG Live

Stay tuned for the toss, it's just about five minutes away

The match is being played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, which is one of the six venues in the Caribbean islands to host the tournament.

Afghanistan defeated Uganda handsomely and currently sit on top of Group C, in which the Kiwis are the only team to not have played a single game. Co-hosts West Indies are the other Test playing nation in the group.

New Zealand are one of the latest teams to start their campaign as all other teams, barring Bangladesh, have already played at least one match.

Welcome back once again to Timesofindia.com's live updates from the T20 World Cup, and action first up today is from Group C, where New Zealand will open their campaign against the flamboyant Afghanistan