The 14th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 took place between Afghanistan and New Zealand at Providence Stadium in Guyana and Afghanistan won the match convincingly. Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran registered a record opening partnership in the Afghanistan vs New Zealand match whereas Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan claimed four wickets each and sealed the deal with ease.

Bowling first, New Zealand bowlers found it tough against an in-form opening pair where Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz took on them with their stunning batting. While Gurbaz started the onslaught with the boundary in the very first over, Zadran too did the same in the second over and hit back-to-back fours to Matt Henry as well.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added a record partnership

Gurbaz took the charge from the beginning, taking on the experienced New Zealand bowling attack with 5 boundaries and as many sixes as well in his blitzy knock. On the other hand, Zadran hit 2 fours and as many sixes in his way of 44. However, Gurbaz reached his half-century in 40 balls as well. Their quickfire batting helped them to add a record 103 runs for the opening wicket before Zadran was dismissed for 44.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma urges US Police to go easy with the pitch invader during IND vs BAN warm-up match

However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran became the first opening pair with consecutive century partnerships at the men’s T20 World Cup as well. Trent Boult and Matt Henry brought back New Zealand into the game with two wickets each as well. Lack of support from the middle order saw Afghanistan post a moderate total of 159/6 in 20 overs.

While chasing, New Zealand failed to get going. Fazalhaq Farooqi struck in his very first delivery. With a full and swinging delivery, he bowled Finn Allen on a golden duck as well. However, he didn’t give the chance to New Zealand batters to settle in the middle as he removed Devon Conway for a mere 8 off 10. After that, he dismissed Daryl Mitchell too.

Fazalhaq Farooqi-Rashid Khan stepped up with the ball

He bowled a short of a good length ball from round the wicket and Mitchell got an edge, leaving his side in the trouble scoring a mere 5 off 5 as well. His stunning spell saw New Zealand could only manage 33 runs in the powerplay. Soon, Rashid Khan too joined the party. He came to bowl after the powerplay and struck straightaway, dismissing Kane Williamson for a mere 9.

He once again came to bowl in the 9th over and his double strike back-to-back left New Zealand struggling at 49 for 6 as well. New Zealand couldn’t bounce back from this as they were all out for 75 in 15.2 overs as well. While Fazalhaq Farooqi finished with 4/17 in his 3.2-over spell, Rashid Khan too shone with the ball, claiming 4/17 in his 4-over spell as well.