Afghanistan Sets 183-Run Target for New Zealand in T20 World Cup Clash

Chennai. In the Group D match of the T20 World Cup held on Sunday morning, Afghanistan presented a target of 183 runs to New Zealand. Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan scored 182 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Gulbadin Naib scored the highest 63 runs for the team. He hit 3 fours and 4 sixes in just 35 balls. Najibullah Zadran added 29 runs with the help of 2 fours in 24 balls, while opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 27 runs off 22 balls. He hit 2 fours and 1 six.

Darwish Rasuli contributed 20 runs off 13 balls. He hit 1 four and 1 six. Towards the end of the innings, Azmatullah Omarzai hit 14 runs off 7 balls, and Mohammad Nabi scored 10 runs off the same number of balls.

For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson conceded 40 runs in 4 overs and took 2 wickets. Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Rachin Ravindra took 1 wicket each. In T20 internationals, both teams have played 3 matches previously. In those, Afghanistan won 1 match, and New Zealand also won 1 match. One match was abandoned.

The last encounter between both teams took place in the previous World Cup, which Afghanistan won by 84 runs. In that match, New Zealand was all out for 75 runs in response to Afghanistan's 159 runs.