Following a hefty 149-run defeat to New Zealand, Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott expressed his frustration on Wednesday, highlighting the team's substandard catching as the primary cause for the loss in the World Cup encounter.
At Chepauk, Afghan fielders missed a total of five catches. Tom Latham (68) and Glenn Phillips (71) capitalised on these errors, crafting a pivotal 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
"It's not the pressure. I think it's been happening a bit too much recently since I've been in charge," Trott mentioned during the post-match press conference.
"Looking at the statistics, sadly, the team is right at the bottom in terms of catching. That needs to improve. We've put in significant effort in training. It's time to replicate that in matches," Trott elaborated.
However, Trott, a former England batsman, commended the Black Caps for their recovery from a shaky 110 for 4. "Latham and Phillips played commendably. They deserve credit for stabilising the innings, turning a potential disaster into a defendable score," he acknowledged.
Recently, Rashid Khan has been avoiding bowling during the Power Plays. Trott clarified this as a technical decision. "We wait until the ball reaches a state where Rashid feels he can grip it properly, given he needs to spin it both ways and when the ball isn't too new or slippery." Nonetheless, Trott praised his team's overall bowling performance.
"Our bowling was on point, and we managed to restrict them effectively. Azmat's entry changed the game dynamics with two wickets in a single over. Rash (Rashid) also secured a wicket," he noted. Trott emphasised that, despite the pitch being slow, it wasn't one for low scores.
"I didn't perceive it as a mere 130-run pitch. It did offer more spin towards the end. Yet, our batsmen managed nearly five to six runs an over against the spinners. The Kiwi seamers were the game-changers, and our score of 28 for 2 after the first power play, while chasing 280, inevitably added pressure on the lower order," Trott concluded.
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