Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan cricket team picked up a huge 84-run win over Kane Williamson's New Zealand in match 14 of the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, on June 8 (Saturday). Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who won the Player of the Match award for his astonishing 80-run knock called this win special as it helped them avenge the loss in the 2021 edition of the mega tournament.
Gurbaz on big win over New Zealand
Gurbaz said their team was waiting for this win for over three years and it helped them settle the score for the loss in the 2021 T20 World Cup. During that edition of the marquee event, New Zealand defeated Afghanistan to seal their spot in the semi-finals. This ended Afghanistan's chances of reaching the semi-finals from the Super 12 stage.
“Nothing is (more) special than this. We have been waiting for this victory for the last three years. We faced them and they beat us, finally we beat them. The trust and the belief was there from the very start. We had the trust that we can beat any team in this competition. The wicket was not easy, the total was very good, very happy. I was actually a bit frustrated, I didn't start that well. Ibrahim and I were discussing that we should keep calm and play some good cricket shots. We thought 130-140 would be a good total, but I played some good shots and Azmatullah played very good shots as well. Credit goes to the bowlers as well, they bowled very well against a team like NZ, unbelievable. This is a very good partnership (Ibrahim-Gurbaz) as openers. We have a very good combination. Sometimes (if) it's not my day, he tries to take on the bowlers. If it's my day, I tell him to give the strike to me. The conversations go on. You have to encourage the bowlers, as a wicketkeeper, my job is to keep everyone active on the ground. I try to give some energy to the bowlers as well,” said Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the post-match presentation.
Afghanistan crush New Zealand
Afghanistan batting first scored 159/6 and then bowled out the New Zealand on the score of just 75 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz single-handedly smashed a world-class knock of 80 runs off just 56 balls on a pitch where New Zealand got all out for 75 runs. Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi were the stars with balls as they both picked four wickets each and Nabi grabbed two.
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