Afghanistan Vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup Highlights: Rashid, Farooqi Bowl AFG To Historic 84-Run Win Over NZ

Welcome to the highlights of our coverage of match 14 of ICC T20 World Cup 2024, played between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Providence Stadium in Guyana (West Indies) on Saturday, June 8. The game saw Afghanistan humiliating New Zealand with a stunning 84-run victory. The Kiwis were thoroughly outplayed by a pumped-up Afghanistan, who put 159 runs on the board courtesy Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 80 (off 56) and then bowled out NZ for just 75 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi (4-17) and Rashid Khan (4-17) were the wreckers-in-chief from the Afghan bowling attack. The win was Afghanistan's first-ever against New Zealand in T20 internationals, and Rashid Khan's team are now well placed to qualify for the Super 8s from Group C. Catch the highlights of the AFG vs NZ match at T20 WC 2024, right here. (Scorecard | Full Coverage)

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.

Kane Williamson: We will have a bowl. We want to use it first up. Hope the dew stays away. Everybody's preparations have been different. The training has been good. We had day time and night time sessions.

Rashid Khan: T20 is not much about the toss. We will look to get used to the conditions. We had couple of days of practice. We tried to relax. Have had a good start in the competition.

Veteran BlackCaps seamer Trent Boult has the ball in hand, and the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz on strike. Swing straight away for Boult, as is the case for him usually. But Gurbaz is equal to the task, stroking the third ball of the innings through the covers for a boundary. Afghanistan are away.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Devon Conway misses what first seemed like a straightforward stumping chance. Replays indicate that the ball nicked the leg stump! The bails stay intact though, and the ball trickles away into the fine leg boundary.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have together gone past the 50-run mark without getting separated. But it has taken 50 balls to get there, indicating how sluggish things have been for them.

After the aforementioned slow start, the Afghan openers are now upping the tempo big time. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran take a special liking to Michael Bracewell, smashing him for three collective sixes in the 11th over to score 21 runs off it. New Zealand still searching for their first breakthrough.

Matt Henry gets the opening breakthrough for New Zealand, after much agony and numerous dropped chances. Ibrahim Zadran chops a short ball back onto his stumps, and Afghanistan lose their first wicket at the score of 103 runs after 14.3 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored his second consecutive half-century, meanwhile.

Azmatullah Omarzai walks in at number 3 and hits a 13-ball 22, before getting dismissed by Matt Henry. The Afghans are well placed at 127 for 2, with three overs to go.

Trent Boult concedes just three runs and sends back the well-set Rahmanullah Gurbaz as well as Gulbadin Naib in the last over of the innings. Nevertheless, Gurbaz's sparkling knock (80 off 56) takes Afghanistan to a competent 159-run total. New Zealand's chase coming up soon.

He is having a dream start to the T20 World Cup. After his maiden five-wicket haul the other night against Uganda, Fazalhaq Farooqi swings the very first ball of the Kiwi innings past Finn Allen. The stumps are shattered, and the Afghans are pumped up.

The incredible showing by Farooqi continues. The left-arm seamer dislodges Devon Conway for eight, and New Zealand now face a stiff challenge. Captain Kane Williamson is at the crease and needs to shepherd this chase - 138 needed from 102 balls.

Afghanistan are really turning on the heat with the ball against a patchy New Zealand. Fazalhaq Farooqi picks up his third, and Rashid Khan gets himself into the attack and dismisses his opposite number Kane Williamson immediately. New Zealand are now four down for just 33 runs, and need another 127 runs off just under 14 overs.

The shocking procession of New Zealand batters continues as Mohammad Nabi joins Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi in the wickets column. Glenn Phillips departs as the BlackCaps lose their seventh wicket with just 54 runs on the board at the halfway stage of their innings. Afghans primed to win this, barring a miraculous effort from the NZ lower order.

Mohammad Nabi accounts for Mitchell Santner and Rashid Khan picks up his fourth wicket, as Afghanistan leave New Zealand nine down and on the brink of crushing defeat.

And here we have it. Fazalhaq Farooqi fittingly picks up the final wicket, and Afghanistan skittle New Zealand for just 75 runs in 15.2 overs. With that, the Afghans pull off their maiden victory over the Kiwis in T20 internationals.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is named the Player of the Match for his 56-ball 80, that spearheaded Afghanistan's batting effort. Here is what he had to say after their historic win. 

"Nothing is more special. We were waiting for this victory for three years. We finally beat them. The trust and the belief was there from the very start. We have the belief that we can beat any team on this surface. In the first innings, the wicket was not easy. (On the message in the drinks break) I did not start that well but me and Ibrahim were discussing to keep calm and play good cricket shots. We thought 130-140 would be a good score. Credit goes to the bowlers as well. To do it against a team like NZ, it was unbelievable. We (Ibrahim and me) have a very good combination and we always discuss. If it is not my day, he tries to take on the bowlers. If it is my day, I ask him to give me the strike. From the coaches, the message is to always encourage the players. Even when I am tired, I try to be active and give some energy to the bowler as well."

Kane Williamson: "Congratulations to Afghanistan, they simply outplayed us in all facets. To get a total like that on a fiddly surface, they kept wickets in hand and played it beautifully. Not good enough from us. Quick turnaround, we have to regroup quickly and onto the next challenge. The boys were focussed and were working hard in preparation for this game but it was not our best performance. We will chat about it, review and move on quickly. It (the games) comes thick and fast and we need to be better. With the bat in hand, you want to get a partnership together. They were excellent. The skill they have was certainly on show. The fielding in the first ten overs, it is difficult on a wicket like that when you are not putting things together in the field. (On the match against West Indies) I think it is about taking a step in the right direction first. Our performance was not good enough. We have another big challenge coming for us and it is about putting together a performance we can be proud of. The opportunities we had and didn't take - on a surface like that, it goes a long way in changing the outcome. Not over-analysing but there are some things we need to address."

Rashid Khan: "One of the greatest performances from us in T20I cricket against a big team. It is a great team effort. The way Ibrahim and Gurbaz started again…the wicket was not easy. They did not throw away their wickets in overs 7-10. Great win for Afghanistan and it is a privilege to be leading this side and winning against NZ. (On the chat during the drinks break) They were the set batters and we told them it was fine. We wanted to make sure we played positively from that point and wanted them to play their natural game. The way they took responsibility was great. (On the score) Anything around 160-170, with the bowling unit we have, we will give tough competition to the opposition, as long as we hit the right areas consistently. The spinners and especially the seamers, the way Nabi bowled the second over - that gave us a sign the ball was turning. The skill we have as a bowling unit, if we use that, it will be hard for the opposition to score 160. (On their aggressive fielding) That is something which gives energy to everyone. It started from the batting, with how Ibrahim and Gurbaz were running. We have to give 100% effort, losing or winning does not matter (to me). That is how we prepare. If we don't give 100%, we will be missing something. I don't care about the result a lot but it is about the effort. I don't care about the wickets, the energy around the group is what makes me happy. The way Farooqi has bowled has been amazing. He is a skilful bowler. Some things to be improved but once he understands how skilful he is, he will be an even dangerous bowler."

With that, we end our coverage of this remarkable match between Afghanistan and New Zealand. Live updates continue from the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh game, so stay tuned. Until next time, goodbye.