Watch: Newcomer Ikram Alikhil took a one-handed stunner to dismiss Will Young during Afghanistan’s 2023 World Cup clash against New Zealand on Wednesday (October 18).
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New Zealand lost two wickets in the space of four deliveries to spark a dramatic collapse against Afghanistan. After losing their first wicket for 30, Young and Rachin Ravindra got together, taking the score to 109. But Azmatullah Omarzai sparked a mini-collapse, first getting Ravindra and then dismissing opener Young in the space of four balls in the 21st over.
While Ravindra was bowled, Young fell to a stunning low catch by Alikhil. The fourth ball of the over angled into Young, who looked for a drive but ended up getting a thick inside-edge. The ball flew to the left of Alikhil, who dived and grabbed a low one-handed catch, leaving commentator Ian Smith impressed. The former New Zealand wicketkeeper rated it as being “as good as you’ll get anywhere”.
It was Alikhil’s fourth ODI since 2019, having made his comeback in August of this year. In the historic win against England in the last game, he scored a crucial fifty after Afghanistan lost 4-38, helping his side to a match-winning total.
Young, who made his second successive fifty in the tournament, departed for a 64-ball 54.
Watch the catch by Ikran Alikhil here:
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