Clinical Black Caps rout Afghanistan by 139 runs

New Zealand came up with another thoroughly professional and clinical display to rout Afghanistan by 149 runs at Chepauk Stadium and maintain their unbeaten run in the Cricket World Cup.

It was New Zealand’s fourth win in as many matches and saw them perched on top of the standings with eight points. However, their remaining matches are against tough opponents India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

After New Zealand had run up a respectable 288, Afghanistan’s batting simply folded up for 139, their second lowest total in World Cups. Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner picked up three wickets apiece and Trent Boult two as the Afghanistan batting got nowhere with the New Zealand bowlers maintaining tight lines and lengths. Of the 208 balls the Afghanistan innings lasted, there were 128 dot balls with only 11 fours and two sixes being struck. Top scorer was Rahmat Shah with 36 off 62 balls.

New Zealand put into bat first, slipped from 109-1 to 110-4 losing three wickets for one run in eight balls as Azmatullah Omarzai struck twice in one over to get rid of two set batters, Rachin Ravindra (32) and Will Young (54) who both had lives early in their innings. When Rashid Khan had Daryl Mitchell caught for one, New Zealand’s innings was wobbling. The Afghan spinners were disciplined with their bowling, but the fielders let them down as they put down Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham and allowed them to consolidate with a partnership that produced 144 runs. Rashid Khan could have had four wickets but ended with just one, as New Zealand found an ideal launch pad to attack at the death.

Although Naveen-ul-Haq claimed the wickets of both set batters Phillips for 71 off 80 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) and Latham for 68 off 74 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) in one over later on, Mark Chapman came in and swung freely, his late cameo helping New Zealand to finish with 288-6. New Zealand showed how to put a good total on the board in the old-fashioned way of ‘keep wickets in hand until the 40th over’ approach even after momentary setbacks.

Scores: New Zealand 288-6 (50) (Devon Conway 20, Will Young 54, Rachin Ravindra 32, Tom Latham 68, Glenn Phillips 71, Mark Chapman 25*, Naveen-ul-Haq 2/48, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/56)

Afghanistan 139 (34.4) (Rahmat Shah 36, Azmatullah Omarzai 27, Trent Boult 2/18, Mitchell Santner 3/39, Lockie Ferguson 3/19)