CWC 2019: AFG vs NZ Review – Neesham’s five-for leads New Zealand to hat-trick of wins
New Zealand outplayed Afghanistan in all three departments at Taunton on Saturday (9th June) to celebrate their third consecutive win of the 2019 World Cup. James Neesham and Lockie Ferguson led the bowling effort for the island nation and skittled Afghanistan for only 172 runs. New Zealand lost three wickets in the chase but Captain Kane Williamson remained rigid at the crease. With a knock of 79 not out, he guided the Kiwis to a comfortable seven-wicket win. Three wins in three games have now taken New Zealand at top of the points table.
After starting well, Afghanistan collapsed in a heap as Neesham scythed through them. Rain breaks did not help the Afghans and they struggled to move towards a competitive score. This is now the third successive loss in the competition for the Asian side and is yet to celebrate a win. This is how the match unfolded.
Zazai and Zadran start steadily
Afghan batting often gives out a sense of restlessness and it begins at the top. With the opener Mohammad Shahzad ruled out, the side had a chance to reset the opening pair and start better. With Noor Ali Zadran as a partner, Hazratullah Zazai was off to another flier. He struck three consecutive boundaries off Matt Henry in the first over of the match. Zadran (31 off 38 balls) was steadier while Zazai batted streakily. At the end of 10 overs, Afghans were 61/0. They were cruising.
Neesham slices through the batting lineup
Zazai was first to go. Medium-pacer James Neesham floated a delivery full and outside off. The batsman could not hold himself back and skied it straight to sweeper cover. Lockie Ferguson removed Zadran and suddenly two new batsmen were at the crease. Neesham then took two wickets in his successive overs thus making Afghanistan consolidate again.
Just when Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi were getting the innings back on the track, the rain intervened. The play was stopped twice but no overs were lost. After the break, Neesham returned and snared two more wickets to complete his maiden five-wicket haul (5/31) in ODIs. At 109/6, Afghanistan’s situation was grim.
Shahidi shines, Ferguson fires
Shahidi (59 off 99 balls) remained the lone warrior for Afghanistan. The left-hander scored his maiden ODI half-century and kept the team alive for as long as possible. At the other end, New Zealand’s premier fast bowler Lockie Ferguson ran through Shahidi’s batting partners. One particular blow was when he struck on Rashid Khan’s helmet while the spinner tried to duck. The ball trickled onto the stumps. Rashid suffered a concussion and did not take the field. Afghanistan was all out for 172 and Ferguson ended up with 4/37.
New Zealand eventually hunts down the target
Chasing 173, the Blackcaps lost Martin Guptill very early. Colin Munro and Kane Williamson ensured no further damage. New Zealand batsmen plotted the chase sensibly and took no risks against Rashid-less Afghan bowling attack. Captain Williamson was not at his fluent best initially but started middling the ball in later stages. Without any regular wickets, there was no chance for Afghanistan to make a comeback in the game. New Zealand completed the chase in 33rd over with seven wickets remaining.
