Afghanistan’s victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2024 marked a significant upset, with Afghanistan securing a commanding win by 84 runs. The match witnessed a remarkable display of bowling prowess from Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi, who collectively wreaked havoc on the New Zealand batting lineup, limiting them to a mere 75 runs. Farooqi initiated the onslaught with three early wickets, while Rashid and Nabi further bolstered the attack with their spin wizardry.
Earlier in the match, Afghanistan set a competitive target of 159 runs, propelled by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s impressive 80 off 56 balls and Ibrahim Zadran’s solid 44. Despite the resistance from New Zealand’s bowlers, including Trent Boult and Matt Henry, Afghanistan managed to post a challenging total.
Reflecting on the match, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, highlighting their disciplined approach in both batting and bowling. He credited Farooqi’s early breakthroughs for setting the stage for their spinners to dominate.
In contrast, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson gracefully accepted defeat, acknowledging Afghanistan’s superior performance. He pointed out his team’s shortcomings in building partnerships and fielding, emphasizing the need for quick regrouping ahead of future matches.
Both captains recognized the tournament’s extended duration and pledged to draw lessons from this defeat, focusing on improvement and resilience in the matches ahead.
