New Zealand recorded a huge 149-run win over Afghanistan in the 16th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, October 18. Captain Tom Latham and speedster Lockie Ferguson shone again to give the Black Caps their fourth win in four matches in the tournament. A win also boosted them to the top spot in the points table with eight points, two more than second-placed India.
Latham, Glenn Phillips and Will Young registered brilliant fifties to help New Zealand to a total of 288/6 while batting first at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. Then Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner continued their red-hot form with three wickets each to bowl out Afghanistan on just 139 runs in 34.4 overs to help the Kiwis claim another two points.
Afghanistan surprisingly chose to bowl first after winning the toss. New Zealand recalled Will Young back into their playing eleven with injured-again captain Kane Williamson sitting out. New Zealand struggled for a good start with Devon Conway adding only 20 runs but in-form Rachin Ravindra and Will Young produced a brilliant 79-run stand for the second wicket.
New Zealand witnessed a shocking collapse as they lost Ravindra, Young and Daryl Mitchell for one run. But Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips managed to pull off a stunning comeback for New Zealand with a match-defining 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Glenn top-scored with 71 off 80 balls and Latham scored 68 runs off 74 balls as New Zealand put 288 runs for 6 on the scoreboard.
Afghanistan failed to replicate a start they received against England in the previous game. In-form pacer Matt Henry bowled out Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the sixth over to give New Zealand an opening and Trent Boult dismissed Ibrahim Zadran on 14 runs to continue Afghanistan's collapse.
Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to balance the game with a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket but it was not enough to make any difference. Mitchell Santner put Afghanistan out of misery in the 35th over with three wickets, which took him to the top in the bowling chart in the tournament with 11 wickets in just 4 innings. Glenn Phillips claimed the Player of the Match award for his maiden World Cup fifty ahead of Santner.
New Zealand Playing XI: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
