T20I Men's World Cup, Game 4, Group D Afghanistan v New Zealand 8/2 1600hrs @ MA Chidambaram Stadium

[Gough]

Afghanistan from, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik
New Zealand from, Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

 

[Plugger35]

Afghanistan winning the toss and choosing to bat first, a bit surprising as most teams choose to bowl first these days.

Rashid Khan said he expects the pitch to favour the spinners later on but it doesn't look like a typical Indian bunsen burner.

NZ have selected an extra seamer in Neesham rather than an extra spinner in Bracewell or Sodhi.

 

[010203]

This should be a good game in the only group with genuine jeopardy over who makes the next phase.

 

[Plugger35]

This should be a good game in the only group with genuine jeopardy over who makes the next phase.

Yeah it's a must win game for both teams, whoever wins likely makes the Super 8 stage.

For the team that loses they will probably need to beat South Africa to still qualify for it.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Finn Allen having a ‘mare in the field.

 

[Plugger35]

Not a good start for us, yet to take a wicket and we have just blown a review on a poor lbw shout that looked too high and was.

 

[Plugger35]

Ferguson strikes with a short wide loosener, that's a bonus.

 

[Plugger35]

A great slower ball from Ferguson to bowl the dangerman Gurbaz.

A good finish to the powerplay when it was looking like being a disaster.

 

[010203]

Danny ****ing Morrison is on.

 

[Plugger35]

We need some wickets soon or we could be chasing a total of around 200.

 

[Plugger35]

Right on cue, Duffy strikes to get rid of Sediq, a shame it wasn't Gulbadin though who is on 50 and looking more dangerous.

 

[Plugger35]

Dale Steyn seems to think we are playing Bangladesh, I wish we were they would probably be easier to beat than Afghanistan.

 

[Plugger35]

Rachin Ravindra with the rope a dope tactic, gave Gulbadin a six off his first ball and got him out off his second ball.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

182 is a reasonable score.

Game on.

 

[Plugger35]

That's a more than reasonable score, our batsmen will have their work cut out chasing that total against their bowling line up.

I'm not confident at all, it would help if Finn Allen can repeat his Scorchers form and get us off to a flyer in the power play.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

2 in 2.

Mujeeb the destroyer.

 

[Plugger35]

Mujeeb on a hat trick after bowling Finn Allen and Ravindra.

We are in serious trouble.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Seifert getting into it.

Good game this.

 

[Plugger35]

Seifert and Phillips are going alright, there is still hope for us yet.

 

[corbies]

The pressure of having 2 wives causing Rashid Khan some anger issues it appears.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Kiwis were on top until Rashid rolls Phillips castle.

50/50 game….

 

[Some Idiot]

Good match up this.

 

[Plugger35]

Silly from Phillips, backed away and threw his wicket away against Rashid when him and Seifert were cruising.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Rashid just dropped the game.

 

[Plugger35]

Rashid dropping Seifert, that's a lucky let off.