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Afghanistan Stun New Zealand in T20 WC Opener, Elect to Bat in Chennai

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand in a crucial Group D T20 World Cup match in Chennai. New Zealand enters looking to recover from a recent 4-1 T20I series loss to India, while Afghanistan rides high on confidence from six consecutive wins prior to a single defeat. Afghan captain Rashid Khan cited a fresh wicket and favorable conditions for his team's spinners as reasons to bat first. New Zealand's Mitchell Santner noted his squad is finally healthy after earlier struggles with player injuries and illness.

Key Points: Afghanistan vs New Zealand T20 WC: Rashid Wins Toss, Bats First

  • Afghanistan wins toss and bats first
  • NZ seeks bounce-back after India series loss
  • Afghanistan on confident six-match win streak
  • Group D labelled "group of death"
2 min read

T20 WC: Noor Ahmad misses as Afghanistan ask New Zealand to field

Afghanistan wins toss, bats first against New Zealand in T20 World Cup. Get match preview, playing XIs, and key quotes from captains Rashid Khan and Mitchell Santner.

"s from captains Rashid Khan and Mitchell Santner.QUOTE: We will bat first... put runs on the boards and I think there will be more help for our spinners later on. - Rashid Khan"

Chennai, Feb 8

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the fourth match of the T20 World Cup here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan stunned New Zealand, winning by 84 runs in Guyana and securing their place in the semi-finals, while New Zealand suffered a shock early exit. The clash has generated significant anticipation, particularly with Group D being labelled the "group of death" alongside South Africa, making every result crucial.

New Zealand will be eager to bounce back after their recent 4-1 T20I series loss to India, which raised concerns due to player injuries and illness. However, their prior experience in India could help them adjust to the conditions, and with a solid batting lineup and strong fast bowlers, they're expected to put up a strong challenge.

On the other hand, Afghanistan enter the match with a confident momentum, having won six consecutive matches before a loss to the West Indies. Their spin-heavy attack, likely to thrive in favourable conditions, gives them a strong edge, making them the potential favourites for this match.

Winning the toss, Afghan skipper Rashid Khan said, "We will bat first. First game for us, fresh wicket, put runs on the boards and I think there will be more help for our spinners later on. We have much experience, have players who've played all around the globe, and we're fully ready for it. Myself, Mujeeb and Nabi, the three spinners, but think there'll be help for the pacers as well. We'll have to bat well and then set it up for the bowlers. We have three pacers as well."

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said, "We were thinking about it, some grass here, not much in Chennai. We've had a series against India, travelled all around the country, then spent some time in Mumbai and we're here. Everyone are up, which is nice - we were struggling with some of our personnel. Ish Sodhi, Bracewell, Conway and Jamieson miss out."

Playing XIs:

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
New Zealand looks really unsettled. Losing 4-1 to India and now injuries... Santner sounds a bit worried. Missing players like Conway and Jamieson is a huge blow. But you can never count the Kiwis out, they are fighters.
V
Vikram M
As an Indian fan, watching Afghanistan's rise is fantastic for world cricket. They play with so much heart. But honestly, the article calling them "potential favourites" feels a bit premature. New Zealand's experience in Indian conditions is a big factor. Should be a cracker of a match!
R
Rohit P
Chepauk wicket + Rashid, Mujeeb, Nabi = Magic waiting to happen! Gurbaz and Zadran need to give a solid start. Hope the middle order fires today. Afghanistan zindabad!
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see Rachin Ravindra playing for NZ against a spin-heavy attack. His IPL experience will be tested. Group D is brutal! Every match is like a knockout.
K
Karthik V
The toss was crucial and Afghanistan got it right. Bat first, put 160-170 on board, and then let the spin trio do the rest. New Zealand's batting looks thin without Kane Williamson's calm presence. Feeling an upset is on the cards again!

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