Watch: New Zealand routed Afghanistan by 149 runs in Match 16 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, registering their fourth successive win and reaching the top of the points table in the process.
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Afghanistan elected to field first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after winning the toss. New Zealand got off to a good start before Mujeeb Ur Rahman trapped Devon Conway plumb in front for 20. Rachin Ravindra then stitched a 79-run partnership with Will Young for the second wicket before a massive collapse raised hopes for another potential upset for Afghanistan.
Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham, however, came together to rescue the New Zealand innings, adding 144 for the fifth wicket. Phillips scored 71 off 80, his second-highest ODI score, while Latham got 68 off 74. From 110-4, New Zealand managed to end on 288-6.
Their innings was headlined by some ordinary fielding and catching from Afghanistan. They spilled at least four easy chances along with making several mistakes on the field.
With the momentum firmly on their side, New Zealand came out strongly with the ball. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were both dismissed inside the first seven overs. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi found themselves going nowhere.
After the fall of the fourth wicket, that of Azmatullah Omarzai, for the score of 97, Afghanistan fell like a pack of cards, losing their last seven wickets, including that of Omarzai, for just 42 runs.
Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson shared three wickets each amongst themselves. Trent Boult took two, while Matt Henry and Ravindra took one apiece.
With the win, New Zealand have become the first team to win four matches at this World Cup and have leapfrogged India to reach the top of the table.
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