(AP Photo)
After Afghanistan’s cricket team delivered an outstanding performance, securing an impressive 84-run victory over New Zealand in their Group C T20 match, skipper Rashid Khan lauded it as “one of the greatest performances” from the team in T20 cricket.
Right from the beginning, Afghanistan’s openers, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, established a strong base with their second consecutive century partnership. Despite the challenging pitch conditions, they exhibited patience and tactical acumen, avoiding reckless shots even during periods of dot balls between overs seven and nine.
Rashid Khan commended their composed demeanor, highlighting how their resolve to play patiently until the end was crucial to the team’s overall triumph.
“It’s one of the greatest performances from us especially in T20s against a big team, New Zealand,” Rashid said at the presentation. “It is all great team effort. It’s not just about the bowling. It’s the batting, the way Ibrahim [Zadran] and [Rahmanullah] Gurbaz started again…the wicket wasn’t easy to score on. But the way they played, they didn’t throw away their wickets early on when they had a few dot balls from overs seven to nine. I think that was the time when they thought about taking it deep and overall it was a great effort, great win for Afghanistan and it’s a great feeling to be leading this side and winning against New Zealand.”
The Afghan batting display was matched by an outstanding performance from their bowlers. Despite the absence of Mujeeb Ur Rahman due to a hand injury, the bowling unit stepped up admirably. Rashid underlined the team’s pre-match strategy, which centered on setting a target between 160-170 runs and then using their bowling strength to restrict the opposition.
The strategy unfolded flawlessly as both seamers and spinners capitalized on the pitch conditions, consistently hitting the right areas and capitalizing on the available turn. Despite the dew factor, the bowlers showcased impeccable skill, making it exceedingly difficult for New Zealand’s batters to find their rhythm.
“It’s something we have discussed before coming into the competition,” he said. “Anything around 160-170 we score on this track, with the bowling unit we have, we will give tough time to the opposition. We knew there was support for the bowlers in the wicket. As long as we keep things simple and hit the right areas consistently, it was going to be more effective for us, and that’s what happened.
“The spinners and especially the seamers, the way they started bowling and then Nabi the second over – that gave us a very positive sign for the spinners that the ball is turning. Dew was there but still bowling tight, wicket to wicket, and the skills as a bowling unit we have, if we use our skills [to the potential], it’s going to be very hard for the opposition to score 160,” Rashid added.
New Zealand’s captain, Kane Williamson, gracefully recognized the dominance of the Afghan side, conceding that his team was surpassed in all facets of the game. He praised the Afghan batters for their composed and efficient play on a challenging surface and conveyed his frustration with New Zealand’s performance.
“First, congratulations to Afghanistan, they simply outplayed us in all facets of the game,” he said. “To get a total like that on a fiddly surface, they kept wickets in hand and played it beautifully. From our perspective, it wasn’t good enough in terms of starting a tournament. It’s very frustrating, but it’s a quick turnaround for us now, we have to regroup quickly and move on to our next challenge.”
Following this triumph, Afghanistan ascended to the summit of Group C, securing their second consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the New Zealand team finds themselves in a challenging position, trailing at the bottom of the table with a net run rate of -4.200. Their path to qualifying for the Super Eight appears daunting, with their upcoming match against the West Indies assuming critical importance. The outcome becomes even more crucial if the co-hosts manage to defeat Uganda in their next fixture, further complicating New Zealand’s prospects.
Rashid Khan’s leadership and the united effort of the Afghan team have ignited tremendous pride and joy among their supporters. The captain’s unwavering belief in his team’s capabilities was palpable as he reflected on their performance:“Anything around 160-170 we score on this track, with the bowling unit we have, we will give tough time to the opposition.” This triumph not only solidifies Afghanistan’s standing in the tournament but also underscores their increasing prowess in the realm of T20 cricket.
