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Afghanistan secures maiden victory against New Zealand in T20 World Cup, winning by 84 runs in Group C clash. Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s skipper, stood out with a remarkable bowling performance, claiming four pivotal wickets – Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, and Lockie Ferguson. Khan’s impressive figures of 4/17 establish a new record for the best bowling display by a captain in a T20 World Cup match.
Top Bowling Performances by Captains in T20 World Cup History
Rashid Khan’s 4/17 against New Zealand in Guyana in 2024 stands as the best bowling figures by a captain.
Daniel Vettori’s 4/20 against India in Johannesburg in 2007
Zeeshan Maqsood’s identical figures against Papua New Guinea in Al Amerat in 2021 rank among the top performances.
Despite New Zealand’s usual strong fielding and consistent performances, they faced an unexpected downfall after opting to bowl first due to the threat of wet weather. Critical fielding errors, including missed stumps and fumbled runouts by keeper Devon Conway, along with a dropped catch, allowed Afghanistan’s openers to establish a solid foundation.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz showcased exceptional batting, scoring a commanding 80 off 56 balls, supported well by Ibrahim Zadran’s 44 off 41 deliveries and Azmatullah Omarzai’s brisk 22 off 13 balls. Although Lockie Ferguson ended Omarzai’s innings, Afghanistan reached 150 by the 19th over, finishing at 159/6, despite New Zealand’s efforts to restrict their scoring.
In pursuit of 160, New Zealand’s batting lineup crumbled under Afghanistan’s bowlers. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s remarkable performance, claiming 4 wickets for 17 runs, including crucial early strikes, left New Zealand struggling. Rashid Khan further compounded their woes by dismissing Kane Williamson with his first ball and adding three more wickets for just 17 runs in his spell. The relentless attack left New Zealand unable to gather momentum, with Glenn Phillips’ run-a-ball 18 being their highest score.
