ICC Men's Cricket World Cup: Kiwis retain winning streak thrashing Afghans by 149 runs
Sports Reporter :
New Zealand retained their winning streak in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup after thrashing Afghanistan by 149 runs in their fourth match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai of India on Wednesday.
Winning in the coin session, the Kiwis decided to bat first and piled up a satisfactory 288 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then bundled out Afghanistan for 139 off 34.4 overs.
New Zealand collected maximum eight points from four matches, while Afghanistan earned two points playing as many outings.
New Zealand had a modest start as the two openers Devon Conway and Will Young put on together 30 runs in the opening stand before Conway (20) was trapped leg before wicket by Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Will Young and one-down Rachin mended their innings contributing together 79 runs for the second wicket partnership before Rachin Ravindra (32) was bowled out by Azmatullah Omarzai when New Zealand’s score was 109 for the loss of two wickets.
Will Young hit a fine 54. His 64-ball innings was studded with three sixes and four fours.
Third-down Tom Latham and fourth-down Glenn Phillips built a worthy partnership.
They scored together 144 runs in the five-wicket stand before Phillips was caught at the long-off by Rashid Khan off Naveen-ul-Haq when the Kiwis’ total was 254 for the loss of five wickets.
Glenn struck a superb 71. His 80-ball knock had four sixes and four fours.
He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting display.
Latham hit a captain’s knock of 68. He hit three fours and two sixes in his 74-ball knock.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai shone with the cherry claiming two wickets each instead of 48 and 56 runs respectively.
Later, the New Zealand bowlers dominated Afghanistan batters.
Rahmat Shah was the only notable scorer for Afghanistan. He made 36 from 62 deliveries including one four.
Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner grabbed three wickets each giving 19 and 39 runs respectively.
Pacer Trent Boult bagged two wickets in the space of 18 runs.
Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra picked up one wicket each for 16 and 34 runs respectively.
