New Zealand’s streak of making it to the semi-finals at white ball cricket World Cups is at serious risk of being halted, after an embarrassing 84-run loss to Afghanistan.
Not since the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh have the Black Caps failed to make it to the final four of a major one day or T20 international tournament.
But after turning in an error-ridden, rusty performance against Afghanistan in their opening match at the 2024 T20 World Cup, they have their work cut out to even make it as far as the second round.
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Lockie Ferguson of New Zealand reacts after a delivery. Getty
Rahmudullah Gurbaz would have been run out for 19 off 17, had Black Caps wicketkeeper Devon Conway cleanly claimed a throw from Matt Henry in the sixth over.
Instead, Afghanistan’s big hitting danger man went on to make 80 off 56 balls before he was bowled by Trent Boult in the final over of his team’s innings.
Having sent their opponents in, the Black Caps were left with a target of 160, which was always going to prove challenging on a pitch at Guyana National Stadium that seemed to offer plenty once pace was taken off the ball.
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan appeals successfully to dismissed Michael Bracewell of New Zealand. Getty
They got off to the worst possible start when Finn Allen was bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi first ball and they never recovered from there, slumping to 6-43 when Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan struck twice in the ninth over.
Glenn Phillips was the only New Zealand batter able to hang around, but when he was caught at long on in the 10th over, for 18 off 18, any faint hopes of a comeback were crushed.
The Black Caps were ultimately dismissed for just 75 in the 16th over, handing New Zealand their largest defeat at a T20 World Cup – and giving their rival’s net run rate a massive boost.
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan celebrates with teammate Fazalhaq Farooqi after dismissing Michael Bracewell. Getty
New Zealand came into the tournament as one of the favourites but with no local warm-up match and with most players having been inactive for some time.
That showed in the field where their performance featured dropped catches, overthrows and misfields.
“Afghanistan outplayed us in all facets of the game,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.
“From our perspective, it wasn’t good enough in terms of starting a tournament. Very frustrating.”
Conway’s drop that cost the the chance to send the dangerous Gurbaz on his way early was symptomatic.
He was playing his first match since February and he wasn’t the only player lacking recent playing time.
Allen dropped a regulation catch at deep backward square leg, where the ball slammed into his chest as he seemingly failed to pick it up, while Williamson also put an early chance down, albeit a one-handed effort.
Afghanistan were only 0-55 after 10 overs, but took advantage of their wickets in hand to explode after that, adding 104 runs in the back half of their innings, including 42 from overs 11-13.
The selection of Michael Bracewell as the second spinner over T20 regular Ish Sodhi backfired, as he was hit for 21 runs in his third over and didn’t return to bowl a fourth.
Boult took two wickets alongside a run out in the final over to ensure Afghanistan didn’t get completely out of reach, but when Allen didn’t come close to getting bat on ball against Fazalhaq, a sinking feeling began to grow.
With Mitchell Santner down at No.8, the Black Caps batting order went deeper than it normally does in cricket’s shortest format, but there was no comeback to be had.
“We were waiting for this match for the last three years,” Gurbaz said.
“We played them at the World Cup three years ago and they beat us. Finally, we beat them. We had the trust and belief in ourselves from the very start.”