On Saturday (8th June), New Zealand clinched an easy victory against Afghanistan in the day/night encounter of the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at The Cooper Associates County Ground (Taunton).
After losing the toss, Afghanistan was bundled out for just 172 runs (41.1 overs) in the first innings. In reply, the Kiwis chased down that target in 32.1 overs after losing three wickets. The Blackcaps won this match by seven wickets (with 107 balls remaining).
Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 172 in 41.1 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 59, Hazratullah Zazai 34; James Neesham 5/31)
New Zealand – 173/3 in 32.1 overs (Kane Williamson 79*, Ross Taylor 48; Aftab Alam 3/45)
Result – New Zealand won by seven wickets
Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:
(Teams’ stats)
Afghanistan
i) In the first innings, Afghanistan was bundled out for 172 runs (41.1 overs).
- It is the lowest completed first innings total for Afghanistan in Cricket World Cup history. Their previous lowest completed total in this list was 186 (47.4 overs) against New Zealand at Napier on 8th March 2015.
(Players’ stats)
Hashmatullah Shahidi
i) Afghanistan cricketer Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 59 runs.
- It is the second highest individual score by an Afghanistan batsman in Cricket World Cup history. The record is 96 runs by Samiullah Shinwari against Scotland at Dunedin on 26th February 2015.
James Neesham
i) New Zealand pacer James Neesham had the bowling figures of 10-1-31-5.
- It is the fifth best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in Cricket World Cup history.
Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham
i) New Zealand pacers Lockie Ferguson (4/37) and James Neesham (5/31) picked up four and five wickets respectively.
- It is the first time when two New Zealand bowlers picked up four or more wickets in the same innings of the Cricket World Cup.
- It is the fourth time when two New Zealand bowlers picked up four or more wickets in the same ODI innings.
Martin Guptill
i) New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill scored a golden duck.
- It is the second time in Cricket World Cup history when a New Zealand opening batsman scored a golden duck. The first New Zealand opening batsman to achieve this feat was John Wright against Australia at Auckland on 22nd February 1992.