On Wednesday, New Zealand continued their winning streak behind the blistering batting of Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips. The Kiwis pulled Afghanistan back down to earth by defeating them by 149 runs in the ODI World Cup.
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Quick Recap: New Zealand vs Afghanistan
A mini-collapse in New Zealand’s top flight gave the resilient Afghans hope for another surprise 3 days after they stunned the defending champions England in Delhi.
Following being called into bat at the Chepauk Stadium, the 2019 runner-up Black Caps rallied from 110-4 to make 288-6, before bowling out Afghanistan for 139 in response.
After upsetting the reigning world champions England by 69 runs on Sunday, Afghanistan’s fielding performance deteriorated, as the team lost its final five wickets for only 14 runs.
The Kiwis Are on a Roll
After an early batting slump, New Zealand coasted to resounding victories in their first 3 matches, crushing England, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh.
The Black Caps slumped from 109-1 to 110-4 after Rachin Ravindra was out for 32, Will Young for 54, and Daryl Mitchell for one, but they rallied under the leadership of captain Tom Lathan and man-of-the-match Glenn Phillips. Phillips hit 71 off of 80 balls, including four sixes, while Lathan made 68 off of 74 deliveries with two sixes and three fours.
In a little under 26 overs, the pair racked up 144 runs for the 5th wicket before Phillips was caught by Rashid Khan off Naveen-ul-Haq. With Mark Chapman’s fast 25 off 12 deliveries, New Zealand went from 254-5 to 288-6.
After reaching 97-3 in the 26th over, Afghanistan lost their final seven wickets for a total of 42 runs after losing openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in short succession for 27.
In this matchup, New Zealand brings more to the table than just their undefeated record this season. Since New Zealand has previously beaten Afghanistan in both one-day internationals played at a World Cup, they hold a significant advantage.
The Afghan Team Still Has Work to Do
Afghanistan are boosted by a victory against England, the defending world champions, while New Zealand are riding high after three wins in a row.
The 69-run victory by Afghanistan over England shook the standings and the storylines of the World Cup. This game is more than just a regular season matchup for both teams. The All Blacks hope to keep their winning streak going and maintain their position in second place.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, is keen to continue its upward trajectory and preserve its recent momentum.
Player of the Match: Glenn Phillips
Player of the Match Glenn Phillips recognizes the skill of the Afghanistan spinners but gives credit to his own squad for the partnerships they formed. Chapman and Santner implemented a plan devised by him and Latham to score 60 runs in the final few overs, he says.
The team’s 250-run total, in Phillips’s opinion, was respectable. He talks up the team’s cohesiveness and mutual respect, praising their combined skills and experience.
Score: New Zealand v Afghanistan
| New Zealand | 222/6 | 50.0 overs |
| Afghanistan | 139/10 | 34.4 overs |
| New Zealand won by 149 runs | ||
New Zealand’s Tom Latham was pleased with the team’s performance against Afghanistan. Batting under intense pressure, the team was able to turn the tables against Afghanistan. Even though they lost three wickets quickly, Latham and Glenn Phillips were able to keep the innings steady thanks to their partnership.
He thinks their recent success and the forthcoming match will be helped by Mitchell Santner’s bowling and the seamers’ contributions. Latham is excited for the upcoming challenge because he is confident in their cricket performance thus far.
The New Zealand squad cruised to a decisive victory, leaving the Afghan team with plenty of room for development. Now that this match is over, we can turn our attention to the next thrilling competition. India will play Bangladesh on the 19th of this month at 2 PM IST.Overall, the level of excitement continues to intensify at the latest Cricket World Cup season! Make sure to find yourself the finest and top cricket betting sites in order to enjoy the cricket betting action to the fullest! Place your bets and don’t miss out on supporting your favorite teams!