ODI World Cup 2023: New Zealand scored 288 runs against Afghanistan

Afghanistan searching for their second win of the tournament faced off against New Zealand who have won all of their three games so far in the ODI World Cup. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai and played the same team from their previous game. New Zealand on the other hand had to make a change to their side with Will Young replacing Kane Williamson. The Kiwis scored 288 runs against Afghanistan. Here is a recap of the first innings.

Afghanistan restrict New Zealand to a slow start

Mujeeb ur Rahman opened the bowling for Afghanistan and the spinner just conceded two runs in the first over. Fazalhaq Farooqi from the opposite end started off with a maiden over against Will Young. On the fourth ball of the second over, Young was dropped at slip by Rahmat Shah. Devon Conway smashed a four off the first ball of Mujeeb’s second over. Young after scoring just three runs in the first 15 balls he faced broke the shackles by smashing Mujeeb for a six in the fifth over. 

Mujeeb after being expensive in his first three overs, was given a fourth over and he repaid the faith of his captain by dismissing Devon Conway and breaking the 30-run opening partnership. In his following over, Mujeeb came close to picking his second wicket as he nearly dismissed Rachin Ravindra but skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi at short mid-wicket dropped an easy catch. Naveen ul Haq came into the attack to bowl the final over of the powerplay and conceded just a single in his over.

Mohammad Nabi came into the attack and started with a quiet over conceding just two runs. Naveen too from the other end remained disciplined as New Zealand brought up their fifty in the 12th over. 

Ravindra and Young start accelerating

Both Young and Ravindra hit a six each in Nabi’s second over resulting in 15 runs. In his following over, Nabi was once again smashed for a six by Young as the opener started moving towards his fifty. Both batters scored 30 runs in three overs (13-15). Rashid Khan came into the attack in the 16th over and was welcomed with a four from Young. Young with another four brought up his half-century in the 18th over in 57 balls. Ravindra in the next over smashed Naveen for a four.

New Zealand lost wickets in a flurry

Azmatullah Omarzai came into the attack in the 21st over and made an instant impact in the game. With just his second ball of the game, Omarzai bowled Ravindra. Ravindra scored 32 runs in 41 balls hitting two fours and one six. In the same over he dismissed Young as the Kiwi opener edged the outside off delivery to the keeper. Young scored 54 runs in 64 balls hitting four fours and three sixes. Rashid from the opposite end dismissed Darryl Mitchell. It was a shortish delivery from Rashid which Mitchell was trying to pull but it went straight to Ibrahim Zadran at mid-wicket. In the matter of just nine balls, New Zealand went from 109-1 to 110-3 and lost both of their set batters.

Phillips and Latham guide New Zealand to a good score

After losing three wickets with just one run added to the score New Zealand was put on the back foot by Afghanistan. Glenn Phillips and stand-in captain, Tom Latham needed to provide stability. Both Kiwi batters started slowly scoring just 13 runs in six overs (23-28). 

In the 29th over, Phillips scored the first boundary of the partnership off Omarzai’s bowling. In the next over, Phillips smashed Nabi for another four. Mujeeb came back into the attack for his second spell and started with a four-run over. Nabi too from the opposite end kept things tight as the seasoned spinner just conceded one run in the following over. Mujeeb proved to be expensive in his next over leaking 10 runs as he was smashed by Latham for a four. Phillips smashed a six in the next over as New Zealand started to regain some control. Fazalhaq and Rashid came back into the attack and once again put a lid over the scoring rate letting just 23 runs scored in six overs (35-40).

New Zealand eye up a big total

Rashid bowled the first over in the death overs. He started by letting a boundary be scored but almost dismissed Latham on the last ball of his over. Mujeeb at backward point dropped another catch and gave a lifeline to Latham. He came to bowl the next over and was smashed for a six by Phillips. Phillips completed his half-century in the 43rd over in 69 balls. Farooqi replaced Rashid who completed his quota of 10 overs. He was welcomed with sixes from Phillips resulting in a 16 run over. Naveen came back into the attack and conceded 10 runs in the 46th over as Latham completed his fifty in 67 balls. Omarzai replaced Farooqi and conceded 18 runs in the 47th over as Latham hit him for two sixes and a four. Naveen in the next over ended the 144-run partnership by dismissing Phillips. Phillips scored 71 runs in 80 balls hitting four fours and sixes each. In the same over Naveen dismissed the other set batter as he bowled the Kiwi skipper. Latham scored 68 runs in 73 balls hitting three fours and two sixes.