Afghanistan imploded in the field after ripping through New Zealand’s top order, dropping Tom Latham twice off Rashid Khan as he piled on the runs at the end of the innings.
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Following their historic win against England in Delhi, Afghanistan looked on course to cause yet another upset in the 2023 World Cup after they took three wickets in nine balls against New Zealand in Chennai. Azmatullah Ormazi dismissed both Rachin Ravindra and Will Young in the same over, and Rashid Khan snared Daryl Mitchell in the next to reduce the Black Caps from 109-1 to 110-4.
However, wickets did not come as easily for Afghanistan after that, and they entered the final ten overs of the innings with New Zealand still four down. At the start of the 41st over, bowled by Rashid, Latham was on 34 off 51 and Glenn Phillips was on 37 off 59.
Rashid was under the pump, having sent down the first five balls of the over for six runs. Looking to get out of the over without further damage, he drew Latham onto the front foot, with the stand-in captain looking to sweep. He was only able to get a top-edge on the delivery, however, which looped to Mujeeb Ur Rahman at short fine leg. It should have been a straightforward catch, but Mujeeb made a mess of it and put it down, leaving Rashid fuming.
Mujeeb came onto bowl the next over and was hit for six by Phillips to rub salt into the wound.
Rashid came back to bowl his final over straight afterwards and once again created an opportunity. With Latham on strike once more to his third delivery, he drew him forward and out of his crease once more. This time, Latham looked to tuck it off his pads into the leg side. However, he got a leading edge which looped to Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi at short cover. It was another fairly easy chance, with Shahidi only having to extend his arms above his head and jump slightly to take the catch.
Another simple catch dropped by Afghanistan fielder 👀
📸 Disney & Hotstar pic.twitter.com/1aZq8CdcVf
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) October 18, 2023
But the ball burst through his hands of his fingertips and gave Latham yet another life. The commentators were left in disbelief at Afghanistan’s errors.
“Oh no not again,” exclaimed Pommie Mgangua. “Not helping themselves at all here Afghanistan.”
“They’re starting to make Australia look good,” chipped in Ian Smith, in reference to Australia’s poor fielding performance against Sri Lanka. “This is amazingly poor fielding, it really is… It’s really disappointing, they’re not supporting the bowlers here.”
Latham and Phillips went on to share a 144-run stand, taking New Zealand to 254-4 with three overs left. They were both dismissed within two balls of each other by Naveen-ul-haq, having both registered half-centuries. New Zealand finished their innings on 288-6.
