Match Discussion
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: I think it is a very good total for our bowlers. I am happy with this total. The start, it was not easy, especially against the spinners. Happy with my innings as well. It depends on our fielding and how well we field. Our plan was to play Santner as well and we were happy to just take him for 20-odd runs. (On the pitch) I can say it is not easy. I hope we bowl well and field well.
Lowest run-rate for a 100+ partnership in T20 WC
7.10 - I Zadran v R Gurbaz vs NZ, Providence, 2024*
7.66 - V Kohli & Rohit Sharma vs WI, Mirpur, 2014
7.88 - Babar Azam & M Rizwan vs NAM, Abu Dhabi, 2021
8.00 - V Kohli & Rohit Sharma vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
Most 100+ opening stands in T20 WCs
3 - Babar Azam & M Rizwan
2 - A Gilchrist & M Hayden
2 - D Warner & S Watson
2 - R Gurbaz & Ibrahim Zadran
As for NZ, their fielding was sluggish, especially at the start. There were several lapses, including dropped catches and missed run-out chances. With the ball, they held their own at different stages, with Boult and Santner being the standouts. Ferguson was not bad either. Henry, though, was expensive and their decision to hold back an over of Bracewell also cost them a few runs, given Mitchell was asked to fill in right at the end.
That said, Afghanistan will feel quietly confident of defending this total, just like NZ will be confident of chasing this down. This game seems to be in the balance, and that means we should have a thrilling second innings in store. Join us in a bit for the chase!
A strange innings which has finished with Afghanistan getting 159. Intent was not a problem in the powerplay (or the first ten overs) but the execution was from an Afghanistan perspective. Then, just after the drinks break, they clicked into gear, with Gurbaz at the forefront.
Gurbaz and Ibrahim registered their second-successive 100-plus opening partnership and that set Afghanistan up nicely. Omarzai, after the fall of Ibrahim's wicket, continued that momentum but once he departed, none of the others could really support Gurbaz, meaning that Afghanistan could not push up closer to 170.
Afghanistan innings progression
Overs 1-6: 44/0 (RR: 7.33)
Overs 7-10: 11/0 (RR: 2.75)
Overs 11-13: 42/0 (RR: 14.0)
Overs 14-20: 62/6 (RR: 8.85)
Most sixes by AFG in a T20 WC innings
11 vs SCO, Sharjah, 2021
9 vs SA, Wankhede, 2016
9 vs NZ, Providence, 2024*
Most sixes for Afghanistan in a T20 WC innings
5 - Mohammad Shahzad vs SA, Wankhede, 2016
5 - Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs NZ, Providence, 2024*
Gurbaz's 80 runs is the highest individual score for Afghanistan in T20 World Cups, surpassing his own 76 runs from the last match against Uganda.
Still not possible total runs will be 324 
What a start for afg
0.1
W
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Finn Allen, out Bowled!! And, he strikes first ball! Full and swinging in, Finn Allen goes for the big on-drive sans any feet movement. Doesn't account for the swing and pays the price. The ball curls past the inside edge to crash into the sticks. Allen is shocked while Farooqi is pumped up. Finn Allen b Fazalhaq Farooqi 0(1)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Finn Allen, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!
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