NZ vs AFG (AP Photo)
The Giant Killer Afghanistan failed to get better of the ever-consistent New Zealand!
With this win, The Black Caps climb to the top of the points table, keeping their winning streak intact at the end of the fourth game. As for Afghanistan, a coup over England is the only thing they have achieved in the tournament so far, lying only above Sri Lanka in the points tally.
On that note, I take your leave. We will be back tomorrow for India's clash against Bangladesh. Do not forget to join us. Until then, see ya.
GAME.SET.MATCH!!!
Fazalhaq Farooqi throws his wicket away to Santner as Afghanistan get bowled out for 139, facing a heavy 149-run defeat.
Afghanistan are going down quickly here. After Ferguson hurries Mujeeb with a short ball that results in a wicket, Naveen too follows the suit, reverse paddling the ball straight at the throat of the short third-man fielder.
Afghanistan are at the brink of an all-out now.
WICKET!
Okay. Rashid got a bit too excited there, like I did. He tried to take on Ferguson but skyed the ball in the air only to find a catcher at cover.
SIX!!!
Only second of the innings. And it's Rashid Khan who has come out with fire in his belly. Let the entertainment begin.
WICKET!!!
That's a dream dismissal for a left-arm spinner. Nabi is gone. Santner slows his pace down, the ball turns just enough to knock off the timber.
This is the 100th ODI scalp for Santner and he now becomes the joint-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing World Cup.
Why Rahmat Why?
New Zealand are claiming a catch. Umpires have sent it upstairs to check for a bump ball. And it's OUT!
Rahmat Shah on his way back to the dressing room. Rachindra Ravindra inflicts a caught and bowled.
Ikram Alikhil crunches one to the extra cover and fetches a four. Afghanistan need many of these.
WICKET!!!
Boult breaks a developing partnership. He digs one short. Omarzai goes for the pull but manages a slight edge off his bat as Latham takes a simple catch.
Finally, Afghanistan make a move on!
Omarzai throws caution the wind and buys Afghanistan and himself two boundaries in an over. When did it happen last time?
At the halfway mark, Afghanistan are 94/3.
Not much to report. Oh dear, I see a few spectators sleeping out there. And some are requesting Afghanistan for some entertainment. #Justkidding
1s and a lot of dots!
This is how the game is moving. Or I say is stagnant. If Afghanistan are not playing for the Net Run Rate, which I feel they are, Rahmat and Omarzai now need to go full throttle.
He can fly without cape, btw!
Are Afghanistan playing for the Net Run Rate? It seems so. Yes, Ferguson has been consistent in his line and length. But this innings have been short on intent ever since the openers departed.
50 up for Afghanistan!
Quite a dull bit of play from them. But you cannot blame the much. New Zealand have not given them much to work around with.
WHAT WAS THAT!!!
It is not just any other wicket. Give to the fielder. Santner has just plucked a one-handed stunner to dismiss Hashmatullah Shahidi as Afghanistan sink to a big hole that is as massive as their win over England. Now, imagine the enormity.
Lockie Ferguson was right on the money in his first over as the Afghans again go into shell against pace. Something's got to give now.
Mitchell Santner comes in to the attack and Afghanistan batters have finally started to open up a bit. 9 runs comes off his over with Afghanistan now trying to up the ante.
End of first 10 overs!
We call it a batting powerplay. But it was no way near that. Afghanistan have already lost their openers and to their misery, runs have come at a rate of 2.8.
Maiden from Henry!!!
This is some spell from the pacer. New Zealand are giving their all in this powerplay.
Required rate is climbing. Wickets are tumbling!
Afghanistan are in a spot of bother. Another wicket from here and New Zealand will not take much time in closing this out.
Another one bites the dust!
Trent Boult sends off Ibrahim Zadran π²
It doesn't look like an ideal situation for Afghanistan at the moment.
WICKET!!!!βΉοΈ
Gurbaz bites the dust. Here goes Afghanistan's first hope.
Matt Henry bags the first Afghani wicket! With this, he becomes the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup. This is ninth and considering how he is going, this is just the start.
Wait. Did Gurbaz mis-read my previous update?π«£
STAND AND DELIVER STUFF!!!!!!!! SENSATIONAL SIX!!
The dangerous Gurbaz, starts off exactly where he left against Englandπ€―
FIRST FOUR FOR AFG!!!!!!π₯
Great timing and placement from opener, Ibrahim Zadran!
Mitchell Santner is just 1 wicket away to reach 100 ODI wickets.
Will he achieve it in his home ground Chepauk?π€
#CSK
THE GAME IS ON!!!!π₯
Gurbaz and Ibrahim are at the crease with Trent Boult bowling the first over.
Boult & Co. confidently asks for a review in the first over itself and it gets wasted. It was too soon to take a review...isn't it?
Who do you think will be the leading run scorer from Afghanistan?π€
I think Rahmanullah Gurbaz! π
Naveen was bowling so far till now but he finishes with a boundary. That sums up the day for AFG with the ball. He had the Kiwis in their grasp but allowed to let them off their grip. NZ were 110-4 at one stage but Latham-Phillips pulled them out of trouble. In the end, the Afghan let them loose as they dropped plenty of catches here in Chennai.
However, as it is said in cricket - it's not over till it's over. Chase can bring some magic for the Asian team, but it seems highly unlikely to me.
NZ - 288/6 after 50 overs.
Afghanistan need 289 runs to pull off another upset in this World Cup!
OH MY HOLY MOLY!!!π₯
Chapman with his finishing ward. 20 runs off the penultimate over. NZ looking to post a total around 290 here in Chennai.
277/6 after 49 overs.
Second scalp in an over for NAVEENπͺπ»
As I was describing that last wicket, Naveen ul Haq has bowled Latham here. After getting lucky like zillion times, Tom Latham finally departs. Afghanistan storm their way back in the match in the end overs. 255-6 after 47.3 overs
BYE-BYE GLENN PHILLIPS! WICKET FOR AFGHANISTANπ€―
Naveen ul-Haq gets a lucky breakthrough here. Bowls an almost waist-high full-toss and gets his name caught at long-off. PHILLIPS departs on a well-decorated 71! Meanwhile, Rashid Khan is still frustrated at his teammates for their poor fielding, as he doesn't celebrates it after taking the catch.
A FIFTY FOR TOM LATHAM!!!π€©π₯³
NZ has officially switched gears. They are at 252/4 in 47 overs.
Here Rashid Khan, here's some π§Ώ for you!
#BADLUCKCONTINUES
GLENN PHILLIPS ON A ROLL!!!!!π₯΅
SIX AFTER SIX! NZ is well in the game and they are taking full-charge.π―
Fazalhaq Farooqi turning out to be really costly for Afghanistan π£
What is going on???? ππ‘
Tom Latham's catch dropped by Captain Shahidi!
Rashid Khan tried his best but was once again failed by his teammate.π
AGAIN AND AGAIN!π‘
Another drop catch for Afghanistan but this time by Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Rashid Khan is disappointed and it showsβΉοΈ
Harsha Bhogle to cricket is what bread is to butter!π€©
NO LUCK FOR RASHID KHAN!
Rashid Khan and Ikram Alikhil passionately appealed, but Joel Wilson dismissed it. Shahidi opted for a review. Rashid's deceptive delivery pitched wide, sharply turned in after bouncing.
Phillips, while attempting to defend, narrowly avoided the inside edge, hitting his front pad. Despite Rashid's fervent appeal, Wilson upheld his decision after ball tracking, as it showed "Umpire's Call" on impact.
Afghanistan started on a high note but it looks like they are slowly losing the momentum.π
Impressive stuff from Latham & Phillips!
After slipping from 109/1 to 110/4 in no time, the Kiwis were in a spot of bother. However, Phillips and Latham have steadied the ship nicely, as the BlackCaps have reached 145/4 after 32.1 overs.
Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham leading the Kiwis now!
WICKET!!!! Afghanistan on a roll!π²
[WATCH] Rashid Khan sends back Daryl Mitchell as he hands Ibrahim Zadran a sharp catch at short-mid.π΅βπ«
Mitchell departs for a single run.
WICKET NO. 3!!!!
Will Young looked in such good flow and rhythm before he nicked behind and was taken superbly by the keeper.
Here's a look at Omarzai celebrating Young's wicket:
AP Photo
OH NO! A BIG WICKET FOR NZ!!!! π«£π
AP Photo
Abdullah Omarzai sends both Rachin Ravindra and the middle stump for a ride. Clean bowled him for 32 (41).
A solid partnership brewing between Rachin Ravindra and Will Young. πͺπ»
The duo has scored 76 (77).
AP Photo
FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE DAY!π₯³
Will Young steers right into his consecutive 50. π€©π₯
Although, we are missing Kane Williamson but Will Young has undeniably stepped up at the right moment.
π¨INJURY ALERTπ¨
Fazalhaq Farooqi has hurt his left elbow while trying to stop the four smacked by Will Young off Rashid Khan. He fell awkwardly on his elbow and the physio is out there in the middle, treating him. He is walking off and the umpires decide to take drinks break.
Rashid Khan is here!!!!!!!!
Off the record, I'm a Gujarat Titans girl at heart π₯° and an even bigger Rashid Khan fan! This man is something else π₯΅
A 'YOUNG' NIGHTMARE FOR AFGπ«£
Will Young is not sparing Mohd. Nabi, as he smashes another six!
2 SIXES IN A ROW FOR NZ!! π³πΏ
An 86 m long maximum by Rachin Ravindra. WOW!π€©
AP Photo
6!!!!!!!!!!!
Great footwork by Will Young, smashes another six off Mohd. Nabi.
Fifty comes up for NZ at the end of 12 overs.π₯
Can we witness another record-breaking performance from Rachin Ravindra today?
Another catch drop by Afghanistan! π©
A simple catch dropped by Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi at short mid-wicket.
AP Photo
WICKET!!!!!!! β
Mujeeb ur Rahman draws first blood dismisses Devon Conway for just 20 (18).π
Rachin Ravindra is currently at the crease replacing Conway.
A 'BOLD' appeal made by the Afghani wicket-keeper.
Is it a wise decision??π
IT'S A SIXXXX!!!
Will Young launches it over the fence π
No Gurbaaz behind the stumps today as the 23-year-old Ikram Alikhil is seen wicket-keeping once again.
FOURR!!!!!π€©
Devon Conway smashes the first four of the game off Mujeeb.
Edged and dropped at first slip.π«£
Will Young survives.
We Miss Kane Mama!π₯Ή
AP Photo
Williamson injured his left thumb during NZ's match against Bangladesh as a result of which his participation in the #CWC23 is in jeopardy. π°
THE MATCH IS ON!
Devon Conway and Will Young leading the charge for the BlackCaps π³πΏ
Mujeeb ur Rahman to bowl the first over.π¦π«
#NZvsAFG
MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report:
"Looking at it, straightaway it looks a belter of a track. There isnβt much grass so there will be assistance to the spinners. Not for the finger spinners but for the wrist spinners. There is a slightly shorter boundary at one side and longer at one end. So the bowlers will have to keep the dimensions in mind while bowling.
Afghanistan have very good spinners on their side and it will be an exciting battle today."
- by Sunil Gavaskar & Simon Doull
Afghanistan Playing XI : Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz , Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq
New Zealand Playing XI : Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c and wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
Team Changes-
New Zealand: Will Young comes in place of Kane Williamson.
Afghanistan: Unchanged from their previous game.
NZ VS AFG TOSS UPDATES:
Afghanistan wins the toss and decides to bowl first. π
The Chepauk Stadium is known to assist spinners. Does winning the toss mean that Afghanistan might seize the match today?
π MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is all set to host NZ vs AFG:
The Afghanistan Team has arrived at Chepauk !
In all honesty, you have to feel sad for the NZ Skipper, Kane Williamson.βΉοΈ
He visibly worked way too hard for his World Cup 2023 return after that disastrous knee injury in IPL 2023 only to get injured once again during his match against Bangladesh. π₯Ή
Hoping to see him again soon!! π€π»
By the way, while we impatiently wait for the toss... did you know this about Chepauk Stadium?π
The coin toss starts at 1:30 PM IST: What are your thoughts? π€
Will we witness another upset today or will New Zealand continue their winning streak? π
After last night's game can I just say: This World Cup is finally World Cup (ing) π
MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai Weather Report:
As we turn our attention to the weather forecast for the NZ vs. AFG clash on October 18, data sourced from weather.com indicates an afternoon temperature hovering around 31 degrees Celsius. The skies are expected to be partly cloudy, with humidity levels at 80%, and a light northward breeze at 8 km/h. In the evening, the temperature is predicted to dip to a pleasant 28 degrees Celsius.
Team Preview Afghanistan:
If ever Afghanistan needed a 'pick me up', they got it with a brilliant display and memorable victory against tournament favourites England.
AP Photo
A drier surface in Delhi suited the spirited Afghans as they rallied to an imposing 284 all out on the back of half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil.
That's before a great performance from the famed spin trio of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan pulled off a 69-run win.
With their spin battery in such spectacular form, the Afghans would be hoping for a similar track at Chepauk to tighten the screws on the Kiwis. Such tracks help amplify their threat with the ball and embolden their batting to withstand the BlackCaps pace attack.
Team Preview New Zealand :
Despite their win over Bangla Tigers, New Zealand would've been bitterly disappointed with the injury to their batting legend and regular skipper Kane Williamson, who has been ruled out until late in the campaign with bruised fingers .
Williamson, who made his return in Chennai following a lengthy knee injury lay-off, played a substantial knock of 78 before being retired hurt with a blow from a throw that caused the fracture.
AP Photo
Williamson's injury would mean the return of the dependable Tom Latham as a stand-in captain while the promising Rachin Ravindra goes back to No.3 and paves way for Will Young's comeback at the top of the order.
New Zealand might contemplate the option of introducing wristspinner Ish Sodhi into the tournament finally on a dry surface in Chepauk. It wouldn't be a surprise, however, if they persist with the existing options, especially their pace pack to ruffle the Afghani feathers.
New Zealand has been nothing short of sensational so far in the tournament, registering three dominating victories on the trot. The Kiwis announced their intentions right from the start by trouncing defending champions England with a nine-wicket win.
The subsequent wins over the Netherlands by 99 runs and an 8-wicket victory against Bangladesh further bolstered their position. A win in the upcoming match will propel them to the top of the points table.
On the other hand, Afghanistan, despite initial hiccups against Bangladesh and India, showcased their mettle by defeating defending champions England in a commanding 69-run win. They'll be riding on this morale-boosting performance and keen to upset the Kiwi applecart.
Who do you think will emerge victorious today??π€
Kia ora, Salam alaikum and a very good afternoon to all the people here! ππ»ββοΈ
This is Muskaan Bhatt from OneCricket, and I'll take you through the day!π€
Welcome to our Live blog for the high-intensity clash between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.π³πΏ v/s π¦π«
 "OneCricket")
