The captain of team Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, and in-form left-arm fast bowler FazalhaqFarooqi took four wickets each as Afghanistan stunned New Zealand by a whopping 84 runs in a Group C clash of the T20 World Cup.
While chasing the target of 160 runs at the Providence Stadium here, the 2021 runners-up were skittled out for 75 with just two batters—Glen Phillips (18) and Matt Henry (12)—managing double digits as they lasted just 15.2 overs. Farooqi and Khan returned with identical figures of 4/17.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave Afghanistan an amazing start in a 56-ball 80 after New Zealand chose to bowl.
The opener smashed five sixes and as many fours as he, along with Ibrahim Zadran (41-ball 44), put on 103 for the first wicket in 14.3 overs. But they could not finish well, as Trent Boult (2/22) and Matt Henry (2/37) restricted them to 159 for six.
Brief Scores
Afghanistan 159/6; 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 80, Ibrahim Zadran 44; Trent Boult 2/22, Matt Henry 2/37) beat New Zealand 75; 15.2 overs (Rashid Khan 4/17, FazalhaqFarooqi 4/17).