Chennai, Feb 8 (UNI) A fluent and blistering half century by opener Tim Seifert
and an attractive and strokeful 42 by Glenn Phillips, heslped New Zealand overcame
a double blow in the second over, to score a clinical five wicket win over Afghanistan
in a Group D match of the T20 World Cup at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here on
Sunday.
Chasing a targetof 183, the Kiwis lost two early wicket, recovered through Seifert and
Glenn Phillips, before Mark Chapman, Darryl Mitchell and skipper Mitchell Santner
with a flurr of boundaroes, took the team past the finishing line with 2.1 over (13 balls)
to spare.
In reply to Afghanistan’s 182 for six, having scored 170-plus total for the 27th time and
had successfully defended it on 26 occasion, the Kiwis overhauled the target in a
clinical fashion scoring 183 for five in 17.5 overs, to start its campaign in this Group of
Death, with South Africa being the third contender, on a winning note.
In pursuit of a big target, the Kiwis, keen to avenge the massive 84 run loss at Guyana,
the last time when both the teams met in the World T20 that earned Afghanistan a place
in the semifinals, started will with three fours by Tim Seifert in the first over off Fazal
Haq Farooqi.
But the introduction of off-spinner Mujib Ur Rahman as early as in the very second
over, turned the tide as he dealt a double blow, rattling the stumps of Finn Allen (1)
and Rachin Ravindra bowled through the gate of the next ball for a golden duck.
Mujeeb nearly got his maiden hat-trick by Glenen Phillipd edged one on to his pads,
while trying to defend, but there was no forward short leg fielder to grab the chance
which went abegging.
Despite the twin set back, Seifert and Glenn Phillips dealt with boundaries as the
Black Caps scored 52 for two at the end of power play. Both scored at a brisk pace
maintaining the rate at 10 an over, with Glenn Phillips greeting Afghanistan skipper
and spinner Rashid Khan, who pickedmup four wickets in the last meeting at Guyana,
with a four and a six.
Runs came thick and fast as the duo stretched their third wicket stand past the 50-run
mark in quick time before Rashid Khan dismissed dangerous looking Glenn Phillips
who tried to slap it through over and edged on to the stumps.
Phillips struck 42 in 25 balls with seven fours and a six and added 74 runs for the third
wicket with Seifert in 7.4 overs as the Kiwis reached the half way stage scoring 92 for 3.
As Kiwis went on top gear picking boundaries and sixers to keep the asking rate well under
the reaching zone, Seifert reached his 14th T20 half century with a towering six and celebrated
it with another six and four in the first over of spinner Mohammad Nabi, before holding out in
the deep going for another maximum.
Seifert who took the Afghan attack especially the spinner headon scored 65 runs in 42 balls with
seven fours and three sixers as the Kiwis narrowed the chase to 151 for four at the end of 15 overs,
needing just another 32 runs off 30 balls, with Darryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman joining the run
scoring act.
The departure of Chapman revived Afghan’s hopes, but Kiwi skipper Mitchell Santner picked a pair
of boundaries and a six as the Kiwis crossed the finishing line in a convicing fashion.
While the Kiwis avenged the 84-run drubbing they suffered in 2024, the Afghanistan, for the first time,
had failed to defend a total of 170-plus.
Following is the scoreboard :
New Zealand
Tim Seifert c Azmatullah b Mohammad Nabi 65
Finn Allen b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1
Rachin Ravindra b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 0
Glenn Phillips b Rashid Khan 42
Mark Chapman c Rashid Khan b Azmatullah Omarzai 28
Darryl MItchell (not out) 25
Mitchell Santner (not out) 17
Extras ; (NB-2, W-3) 5
Total :183 for five in 17.5 overs
Fall of wickets : 1,14, 2-14, 3-88, 4-124, 5-155.
Afghanistan bowling :
Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-0-25-0
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-31-2
Azmattullah Omarzai 3.5-0-40-1
Rashid Khan 4-0-36-1
Ziaur Rahman 3-0-33-0
Mohammad Nabin1-0-18-1.
Seifert, Glenn Phillips ensure winning start for Kiwis in T20 WC against Afghans
