Abu Dhabi: New Zealand produced a clinical all-round performance to beat Afghanistan by eight wickets in their last Super 12 stage match and qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, here Sunday.
With this win, New Zealand not only made it to the semi-finals but also knocked out both Afghanistan and India from the tournament. This is the third time that New Zealand have made it to the semi-finals in T20 World Cups following 2007 and 2016.
Riding on a fighting fifty by Najibullah Zadran (73 off 48), Afghanistan posted a respectable 124/8 in 20 overs.
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While Zadran was the lone warrior for Afghanistan, Gulbadin Naib (15) and Mohammad Nabi (14) also chipped in with cameos while Trent Boult 3-17 and Tim Southee 2-24 were the main wicket-takers for the Black Caps.
In reply, all four New Zealand batters – Martin Guptill (28), Daryl Mitchell (17), Kane Williamson (40 not out), Devon Conway (36 not out) made small but vital contributions and helped their side chase the target quite comfortably in 18.1 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Rashid Khan (1/27) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/31) were the wicket-takers for Afghanistan.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 124/8 in 20 overs (Najibullah Zadran 73; Trent Boult 3-17, Tim Southee 2-24) against New Zealand 125/2 in 18.1 overs (Kane Williamson 40 not out, Devon Conway 36 not out; Rashid Khan 1/27)