Follow UsNew Zealand have got their 2023 World Cup campaign off to some start, having now won their first four encounters. The Black Caps, on Wednesday (October 18), produced another clinical performance and hammered Afghanistan by 149 runs in Chennai.
Devon Conway was dismissed in the seventh over but Will Young (54) and Rachin Ravindra (32) put on 79 runs for the second wicket. Everything was going smoothly before they lost three wickets in the space of nine deliveries and were forced to regroup.
Skipper Tom Latham (74-ball 68) and Glenn Phillips (80-ball 71) added 144 runs for the fifth wicket and took their team past 250. Mark Chapman (12-ball 25*) played a fiery cameo down the order as New Zealand slammed 103 runs in the last 10 overs.
“A pleasing start. Another great performance. We were put under pressure sometimes. We had lost three wickets in a short span of time. We thought of regrouping. They bowled fantastically well. We managed to capitalize. Glenn played a fantastic knock,” said Latham.
Afghanistan never looked alive in the run-chase and were bundled out for just 139 runs in 34.4 overs. Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner took three wickets each, while Trent Boult claimed 2/18 in seven overs.
“The first 10 overs were superb. Mitch Santner coming in and doing his job. Pleasing all-round performance. I guess on the back of some good performances, it is pleasing. We have India and then Australia. Hopefully, the momentum will continue.”
Afghanistan were terrible in the fielding department, dropping five catches and missing a simple stumping opportunity. “At this level, you have to take those catches. The fielding was poor. We were a bit down because of that,” said skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.
“Before the 40th over, we dropped a couple of catches. We couldn't stop the set batters. We tried but failed. We bowled well but the fielding was a concern for us. It will hurt us.”
Phillips, who scored only his second ODI fifty, was named player of the match. The right-handed batter was excited to get some runs against Afghanistan’s formidable spin attack, and was always looking to go big in the last 10 overs after preserving wickets in the first 40 overs.
“The Afghanistan spinners are incredibly talented and strong. Was really pleasing to see me and Tom go well in the middle after losing a few early. It was really good the way we batted here, especially on a dusty track. Was great how we were able to take it down till the end and get the runs,” said Phillips, who slammed four fours and as many sixes during his stay in the middle.
“We thought we’d be able to get 60 off the last 6 if we both were out there. The way Chapman and Santner finished it off was amazing. Thought that around 250 would’ve been par.”