Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup campaign continued to soar with a commanding 84-run victory over New Zealand in Guyana on Friday.
Afghanistan registered their second consecutive win in the tournament, showcasing another stellar opening stand. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the star of the innings, plundering 80 off 56 balls, including five fours and five sixes. Ibrahim Zardan provided solid support with 44 runs. Despite a brief stumble after Azmatullah Omarzai’s dismissal for 22, Afghanistan posted a formidable total of 159-6.
New Zealand, the 2021 runners-up, struggled to find their footing in the chase. Only two of their players managed to reach double figures, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 18. They were bowled out for a meager 75 in just 15.2 overs, suffering their first T20 international defeat to Afghanistan and dropping to the bottom of Group C.
Afghanistan has opened an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins for just the second time, last achieving this feat in 2016. They have now won their last four T20Is, marking their longest winning streak since 2022. Gurbaz hit 50 for the second game in a row, improving on his 76 runs against Uganda with 80 in this match.
Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh have set a strong tone for their World Cup campaigns, with Afghanistan’s dominant performance and Bangladesh’s resilience promising exciting matches ahead.
