A new day of the World Cup has started with a ruthless performance by Afghanistan against New Zealand. Their all-round brilliance made the Kiwis clueless and handed them an 84-run defeat. First Uganda and now New Zealand, Afghanistan’s back-to-back victory at the group stage put them in the strongest position to qualify for the next phase of the Tournament. After the match skipper Rashid Khan shared his view about the game and the thought process behind the big game.
Afghanistan Skipper After the Match:
After this beautiful performance by Afghanistan, Captain Rashid Khan expressed his thoughts about every aspect of the match at the post-match session.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said, “ One of our best T20 performances from us, especially against a big team like New Zealand. The wicket wasn’t easy to score, Gurbaz and Ibrahim batted really well, it was a superb performance with the bat, ball and the field. I’m really happy to be leading this team. I was fine with that (on the slow start), we scored 30 odd in the first six overs, we just chatted about going on from there, playing our natural game, keeping the scoreboard ticking and that’s what happened.”
He added, “ We knew anything around 160-170, we’ve the bowlers for these wickets – we just needed to hit consistent lines and lengths, Nabi’s second over, that was a positive, there was a bit of spin. If we use our skills, it’s tough to chase down 160 against us. The energy in the field, the effort, the running between the wickets was amazing. Win or lose, we just need to give our 100%, if we don’t give it, we’ll miss something.”
He concluded, “ I don’t worry about the result as long as we put in the effort. He has been giving us the base (on Fazalhaq Farooqi), the way he’s bowled in the two matches has been amazing, he’s very skillful, but he can continue to work on his bases and become even better.”
Rashid Khan’s Economical Bowling Against New Zealand:
In a mesmerizing display of spin wizardry, Rashid Khan, donning the captain’s armband, weaved his magic, claiming four crucial wickets for a mere 17 runs in his spell of 4.2 overs. His victims included the esteemed Skipper Kane Williamson, whose dismissal set the tone for Afghanistan’s dominance. Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, and Lockie Ferguson fell prey to Rashid’s cunning variations, succumbing to his relentless precision. Rashid Khan’s bowling masterclass not only dismantled New Zealand’s batting lineup but also solidified his status as one of the most formidable spinners in the cricketing arena.
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