ABU DHABI: Kane Williamson and Devon Conway guided New Zealand to an eight-wicket win over Afghanistan and qualify for T20 World Cup’s semi-finals.
Williamson and Conway scored 68 runs together to lead New Zealand’s successful 125-run chase.
Williamson remained not out for 40 runs whereas Conway walked out with 36 runs under his belt. Williamson struck three boundaries followed by Conway, smashing four boundaries.
Martin Guptill made 28 runs before falling to Rashid Khan who completed his 400 T20 wickets. Daryl Mitchell managed to score 17 including three fours.
Rashid and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman bagged a wicket each for Afghanistan.
Earlier, New Zealand bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 124-8 in a must-win game for them.
After deciding to bat first in a virtual quarter-final, Afghanistan’s batters fell apart. The top-order failed completely to score runs.
Najibullah Zadran fought hard for Afghanistan with his 73 runs off 48 balls laced with six boundaries and three maximums. Gulbadin Naib made 15 whereas Mohammad Nabi made 14.
For New Zealand, Trent Boult bagged three wickets, Tim Southee took two wickets followed by Adam Milne, James Neesham, and Ish Sodhi taking a wicket each.
TOSS
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first in their last group stage contest against New Zealand
SQUADS
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (capt), Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (capt), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.
