AS per cricbuzz report, In an exciting cricket match in Chennai on October 18, New Zealand showcased their prowess with a solid 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This remarkable stand was orchestrated by Glenn Phillips, who scored 71 runs, and Tom Latham, contributing 68 runs to the team’s total. This dynamic duo played a crucial role in New Zealand posting a challenging total of 288, much to the delight of their fans.
The Late Surge
New Zealand’s innings was not without its dramatic moments. A whopping 103 runs came off the final ten overs, putting immense pressure on Afghanistan during the slog overs. The Afghan side, unfortunately, lost their grip during this crucial phase of the game. Their fielding, in general, was also below par, allowing New Zealand to amass about 30-40 runs more than initially expected.
The Early Loss
New Zealand’s batting innings began with the early departure of Devon Conway in the first Powerplay, courtesy of Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. Despite this early setback, the Kiwis remained on track, thanks to a strokeful fifty from Will Young. Young found a reliable partner in the impressive Rachin Ravindra. The pitch, previously used in the New Zealand-Bangladesh game, offered favorable conditions for strokeplay, with a shorter boundary at one end. However, this being the second game on the pitch, it had also become a trickier surface for the batsmen. Young and Ravindra appeared to have the situation under control until Azmatullah Omarzai was introduced into the attack.
A Game-Changing Over
Azmatullah Omarzai proved to be a game-changer, taking just two deliveries to break the promising partnership. He dismissed both set batters in the same over, sending shockwaves through the New Zealand camp. More trouble awaited the Kiwis as Daryl Mitchell fell in the next over to Rashid Khan. From a comfortable 109/1, New Zealand suddenly found themselves struggling at 110/4 with more than half of their overs still to be bowled.
At this crucial juncture, stand-in skipper Tom Latham joined forces with Glenn Phillips to embark on a rescue mission. Their partnership was far from easy, especially when facing the slower bowlers and variations in pace. However, they demonstrated tremendous resilience and determination. Like their predecessors, Latham and Phillips were also beneficiaries of some crucial dropped catches in the field.
Afghanistan paid a steep price for their fielding lapses as both Phillips and Latham geared up for the final onslaught. They executed their plan flawlessly. Phillips, known for his fluent strokeplay, showed restraint for a significant part of the innings. Latham, on the other hand, struggled to find his rhythm until the later stages of the innings. However, when he did, he treated the audience to trademark ramps and lofted strokes.
A Lax Bowling Display
Apart from the dropped catches, Afghanistan’s bowling in the death overs proved to be quite wayward. They would have preferred a target in the range of 260, but New Zealand’s late surge elevated the score to 288. Nonetheless, with the expectation of dew later in the game, this remains a chaseable target, albeit one that demands a formidable effort against the formidable New Zealand attack.
In conclusion, New Zealand’s innings was a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows, but it was ultimately their ability to capitalize on Afghanistan’s lapses that allowed them to post a challenging total.
Brief score: New Zealand 288/6 in 50 overs (Glenn Phillips 71, Tom Latham 68; Naveen-ul-Haq 2-48) vs Afghanistan