Fazalhaq Farooqi Shines as Afghanistan Thrashes New Zealand by 84 Runs in T20 World Cup 2024
Afghanistan now sits at the top of the Group C points table.
Afghanistan pulled off a stunning upset victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2024, securing a dominant 84-run win at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were the heroes for Afghanistan, continuing their red-hot form with a consecutive century partnership.
Their 103-run stand laid the foundation for a competitive total of 159/6 after New Zealand elected to field first. Gurbaz top-scored with a blistering 80 (56 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) while Zadran chipped in with a valuable 44 (41 balls).
New Zealand’s bowling lacked the usual bite, with dropped catches and misfields adding to their woes.
The chase turned into a nightmare for the Black Caps as their batting lineup crumbled under pressure. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s bowling duo, wreaked havoc, taking four wickets each for just 17 runs. New Zealand was bundled out for a mere 75 runs in just 15.2 overs, registering their fourth-lowest total in T20I history.
This emphatic victory sends a strong message from Afghanistan. They now sit atop Group C after two convincing wins and will be looking to continue their impressive run in the tournament and make it to the Super 8 stage.