A series of fielding gaffes by New Zealand helped Afghanistan to a record opening stand in their T20 World Cup fixture in Guyana.

 

At one point, it felt like nothing was going New Zealand’s way, following multiple dropped chances, run-out and stumping misses, and an overturned lbw decision.

A series of comical errors

Wicketkeeper Devon Conway, making a return after a four-month injury layoff, looked out of sorts behind the stumps. It started in the fourth over: Rahmanullah Gurbaz advanced to a Mitchell Santner delivery, but missed it, and the ball nicked the leg stump before sneaking past Conway’s gloves, who was late to act.

 

Next over, Ibrahim Zadran could have been caught in the deep, but Finn Allen seemingly lost the ball in the lights, spilling a chance at deep backward square leg. The ball bounced off his chest. 

In the sixth over, New Zealand had one more chance at sending Gurbaz back. Having tapped to short third man, Gurbaz sprinted off for a run but was sent back. The throw came in fast and sharp, but Conway couldn’t collect it cleanly, allowing Gurbaz to somehow manage his way back in.

 

Two balls later, there was more agony for the Kiwis, but not by their own fault. Mitchell Santner straightened one into Zadran’s pads, and had him lbw. However, replays showed that the ball was going over leg stump, giving the Afghanistan openers yet another reprieve.

It didn’t end there. 

Off the fifth ball of the tenth over, Zadran skied a ball to mid-off, where Kane Williamson dived backwards, stretching his taped right hand out. It was a brilliant attempt, but the ball slipped out, giving the openers another reprieve.

Next over, Glenn Phillips held onto a catch in the deep, but the momentum carried him over the ropes, leading to a six.

 

Afghanistan's opening record

In that seven ball sequence, Afghanistan hit four sixes, pushing forward after they managed only 55-0 in the first ten. Gurbaz accelerated thereafter as Afghanistan clocked 100 by the 14th over. 

It’s the first time an opening pair had put up successive 100+ partnerships in the T20 World Cup. The two had put on a 154-run stand against Uganda in their opening fixture earlier in the week.

To make matters worse, Gurbaz got a leading edge soon after, but the ball somehow managed to land between three converging fielders. It led to one of the commentators exclaiming: "It's just one of those nights. It's agonising!”

Two balls later, New Zealand finally saw Ibrahim’s back, but the platform had been set for a competitive total. Afghanistan managed 159-6, a decent recovery despite a three-wicket final over.

Later, Gurbaz – who finished on 80 off 56 – revealed that it wasn’t an easy surface, especially against spinners. 

In reply, New Zealand folded for 75, handing Afghanistan a massive 84-run win.

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