In a stunning upset at the T20 World Cup, New Zealand slumped to their heaviest defeat in the tournament’s history, falling to Afghanistan by a massive 84 runs in Guyana on Saturday. This loss goes beyond just defeat – it’s etched in the record books, as New Zealand’s chase of 160 runs ended with their second lowest-ever T20 World Cup score of a mere 75.
New Zealand’s Lowest Scores in T20 World Cup
- 60 vs Sri Lanka – Chattogram, 2014
- 75 vs Afghanistan – Guyana, 2024
- 99 vs Pakistan -The Oval, 2009
- 110 vs Sri Lanka – Nottingham, 2009
- 126/7 vs India – Nagpur, 2016
Afghanistan’s Spin and Pace Wreak Havoc on Black Caps Batting
Chasing a seemingly manageable target, the New Zealand batting order crumbled under pressure from Afghanistan’s bowling attack. Spin maestro Rashid Khan and the fiery pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi orchestrated the Kiwi collapse, claiming four wickets each for a mere 17 runs apiece. The rest of the Afghan bowling unit chipped in effectively, leaving the Black Caps reeling at 75 all out after just 15.2 overs.
New Zealand’s Biggest Margins of Defeat in T20 WC
- 84 runs vs Afghanistan – Guyana (2024)
- 59 runs vs Sri Lanka, Chattogram (2014)
- 48 runs vs Sri Lanka, Nottingham (2009)
- 20 runs vs England, Brisbane (2022)
Earlier, Afghanistan set a challenging total of 159 runs on the board, thanks in large part to a blistering innings from wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Fresh off his IPL triumph with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Gurbaz displayed his explosive batting style, hammering a well-paced 80 runs off just 56 deliveries. His knock included five towering sixes and five boundaries, laying the foundation for a strong Afghan total.
Solid Start for Afghanistan Followed by Bowling Dominance
Gurbaz shared a crucial 103-run opening partnership with Ibrahim Zadran (44 runs off 41 balls), providing a solid platform for the Afghan batting order. While the middle order couldn’t quite capitalize on the start, bowlers like Trent Boult (2/22) and Matt Henry (2/37) managed to restrict Afghanistan to a total that seemed within reach for the experienced New Zealand batting line-up. However, the Black Caps’ batting woes proved decisive, handing Afghanistan a historic victory.
This defeat is a massive setback for New Zealand, who were considered one of the favourites for the T20 World Cup title. They will need to regroup quickly and analyze their batting frailties if they are to have any hope of progressing further in the tournament. For Afghanistan, this victory is a significant moment in their cricketing history, showcasing their ability to compete against established cricketing nations on the world stage. The cricketing world now eagerly awaits New Zealand’s response as they look to bounce back from this humbling defeat.
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