NZ keep perfect record as Afghanistan fall apart in chase of 289

After causing a major stir in the 2023 World Cup by beating defending champions England on Sunday, Afghanistan briefly harboured hopes of upsetting the 2019 runners-up too. But the New Zealand brand of professionalism and experience came to the fore once more as they managed to keep their unbeaten record intact to make it four out of four in the competition. Sent in to bat, New Zealand slipped from an agreeable 109 for 1 in the 21st over to a not-really agreeable 110 for 4 in about nine balls. Nonetheless, chief Tom Latham and the do-everything man Glenn Phillips resuscitated the innings with a 144-run represent the fifth wicket. They were likewise assisted by Afghanistan's messiness in the field with upwards of six possibilities - five gets and a run out - going an asking as New Zealand piled up 288 for 6. Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson then proceeded with their fantastic run of structure with three wickets each as Afghanistan imploded in a store in the pursuit. Just Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai set up a similarity to battle before Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for only 14 runs in 24 balls to be bowled out for 139 and go somewhere near 149 runs in Chennai. The success not just gave New Zealand's NRR a tremendous lift yet in addition hardened their situation at the highest point of the focuses table. On a damp Wednesday evening, Afghanistan's choice to bowl previously caused a commotion, however it was their endeavors on the field that hurt them more. Fazalhaq Farooqi found Will Youthful's external edge on only his fourth bundle of the day however Rahmat at wide slip neglected to hold tight to what was a guideline catch to one side. Youthful, on 1 at the time proceeded to score 54. With Youthful battling at first, it was Devon Conway who set the ball moving with a couple of eye-getting fours. Youthful before long found his magic as he flung Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman over lengthy on. In any case, the bowler before long got payback, but on Conway, catching the player before the stumps. The choice alluded higher up after the on-field umpire gave it not out, turned out well for Afghanistan. Rachin Ravindra, who took 13 balls to get off the imprint, found a hobby on 0 when Hashmatullah Shahidi dropped a clear catch at midwicket. He made a point to make Afghanistan pay as he added an energetic 79-run represent the second wicket with Youthful. Afghanistan looked dispossessed of choices before Shahidi went to Omarzai and the medium-quick bowler conveyed immediately. Ravindra missed a cross-batted smack to find his center stump straightened while four balls later Youthful fell graciousness a dazzling one-gave take by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil. Youthful pushed at a wide length ball outside off, however could deal with a dainty inside edge. Alikhil's expectation was spot on as he moved to one side and culled out a one-gave shocker creeps from the turf. Daryl Mitchell was then booted out by Rashid as New Zealand's innings flipped around in nine balls. The ball began turning that piece more, and the pacers additionally tracked down development. Afghanistan yielded just 29 runs in the ten overs somewhere in the range of 21 and 30, which had only two fours and three wickets. Yet, while this was going on, Latham and Phillips stood their ground. There were a couple of brazen minutes however the pair adhered to the fundamentals well. It was the over after drinks when the two chose to take the seriously going after course. Latham rowed Mujeeb fine past the stumps before Phillips took Nabi over profound midwicket. That being said, New Zealand could reach 185 for 4 after 40 overs however two dropped gets turned the game their direction. Latham was placed somewhere near first by Mujeeb in the 41st over at short fine leg, before Shahidi put down a sitter at short cover in the 43rd, both off Rashid. Furthermore, New Zealand took their risks. They wallopped 103 runs off the last ten overs to penetrate the 280-mark. Mark Chapman with an unbeaten 12-ball 25 did his piece also. Pursuing 289, Afghanistan's pursuit never truly took off. Trent Boult got the swing working for him every step of the way. He had both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in early strike however it was Matt Henry who drew first blood. Having quite recently been siphoned by Gurbaz straight over his head, the speedy returned with a length back that seamed pointedly back in penetrating the player's protections and colliding with his stumps. Two balls later it was Ibrahim's chance to leave when he shut the substance of the bat too soon to a Boult mixed crease conveyance and hurled a straightforward catch to Santner at cover. Shahidi and Rahmat Shah took 47 balls for the 16-run stand which was finished by Santner's worldie. Lockie Ferguson's sharp guard was fought ungracefully by Shahidi, yet he appeared to have sufficient bat on it to clear the defender at square leg. Santner, however ran back, watched out for the ball prior to jumping with his outstretched passed close by to finish a blinder. Afghanistan were diminished to 43 for 3 after 14 with their possibilities getting thin. Rahmat and Omarzai added a 54-run represent the fourth wicket however never did New Zealand let the game float. The limits were rare and even strike-turn wasn't generally spot on. Azmatullah to some degree broke the shackles in the 25th over with two fours yet was represented by Boult in the extremely next ball and when Rahmat fell in the 29th over, the Afghanistan innings slid rapidly. Santner arrived at 100 ODI wickets by sending back Nabi with an outright ripper before Ferguson eliminated Rashid and Mujeeb in the 34th over. Santner then, at that point, shut the game in the 35th as New Zealand won serenely.