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Last updated on 07 Nov, 2021

Shubh Aggarwal

NZ seal semi-finals spot with a clinical win

NZ 125/2(18.1)

01:24 PM IST

Pak, Eng, Aus, NZ the four semi-finalists

So we have our four semi-finalists with two games to go in the Super 12 stage. A highly professional performance by the Kiwis to seal the fourth spot today. This means Afghanistan and India are out of the hunt. Our coverage now heads to Match 41, were Pakistan takes on Scotland. A win for Pakistan will make them the group toppers and avoid England in the semi-finals. This is it from my side. This is Shubh signing off.

NZ 125/2(18.1)

01:21 PM IST

What the captains have to say

Kane Williamson, the winning captain: "Strong performance. We know how dangerous this Afghanistan side is. Nice for us to be able to set the tone with the ball, take wickets early and then keep them to below-par total. 150-155 would have been par. It has certainly been a challenge to adjust quickly to three different venues. Another strong challenge coming up. England are a very strong side. For us it is important we keep learning and building on. Incredibly tough competition. Looking forward to the occasion."

Mohammad Nabi, the losing captain: "This has been our plan to win the toss and put on a decent total on the board. But we didn't start well. Then Najib brought us back but again we didn't finish back. 150-160 would have been a decent total on this pitch. On this kind of pitch, this is not a decent total. Still we tried our best with the ball. We played good cricket in the tournament, and we will take a lot of positives. We need to correct the mistakes we made with the bat."

NZ 125/2(18.1)

01:17 PM IST

Trent Boult, Player of the Match

With figures of 3/17, Trent Boult is the Player of the Match: "Nice to get the performance this afternoon. The boys are in good spirits. Some big games coming up. Wickets have been different during the day games and night games so nice to have experienced both. England are playing good cricket. It is going to be a challenge."

NZ 125/2(18.1)

01:06 PM IST

NZ through to semis

A single to long on brings the winnings run. Clinical from Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, taking New Zealand home in unbeaten 68-run stand off 57 balls. New Zealand chase it down with 11 balls and eight wickets in hand. as easy as it gets. The Kiwis are the fourth semi-finalists.

NZ 101/2(15.0)

12:51 PM IST

Chase back on track

A few boundaries and the run chase is back on track for the Kiwis. Not that they were going haywire but there was some breathing space for the Afghans. But 31 runs in the last three overs have brought the asking rate well below 6 runs per over. Also, Rashid Khan's spell is done, at 1/27.

NZ 70/2(12.0)

12:39 PM IST

Afghanistan putting in a squeeze

Only 9 runs in the last two overs. Afghanistan have managed to keep the asking rate above 6 for the Kiwis, which can be tricky in such chases. Things would have been more tricky if they had a wicket in these two overs. Apparently, they did but they did not appeal. The replays suggested that Hamid Hassan had found a faint edge off Devon Conway's bat in the 11th over but there was no appeal.

NZ 61/2(10.0)

12:27 PM IST

Halfway mark

16 runs for one wicket. Afghanistan have pulled things back a little but New Zealand still ahead. The Mohammad Nabi led side need a massive effort in the last quarter of this game. Picking wickets would be a good start to it.

NZ 57/2(8.5)

12:22 PM IST

Rashid cleans up Guptill

Rashid Khan has the better of Martin Guptill here. There were no boundaries since the powerplay and the pressure got to Guptill. He went for a slog sweep but missed the ball altogether. A sharp googly from Rashid which also keeps a little low crashes into the stumps. 400 T20 wickets for the leg-spinner.

Guptill b Rashid 28 (23)

NZ 45/1(6.0)

12:13 PM IST

Back to back boundaries to finish the Powerplay

That is the end of the Powerplay and on a positive note for New Zealand. Martin Guptill finds the fence on consecutive occasions. New Zealand well on top at 45 for 1.

NZ 26/1(3.1)

12:02 PM IST

Mujeeb strikes

Mujeeb Ur Rahman breaks the opening stand. Strikes with the carrom ball. Superb line and length. Forces Daryl Mitchell to prod tentatively outside the off-stump. Takes the feather and Mohammad Shahzad takes a good catch behind the stumps.

Mitchell c Shahzad b Mujeeb 17 (12)

NZ 26/0(3.0)

11:59 AM IST

11 off the over

Naveen Ul Haq's struggles in Abu Dhabi continues. Leaks two boundaries in his first over. He now has an economy of 10.8 at this venue this World Cup, as compared to 6 in Sharjah and 7.3 in Dubai.

NZ 15/0(2.0)

11:54 AM IST

New Zealand start well

A decent first two overs for New Zealand. 15 runs on the board with a boundary each of the over bowled by Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

AFG 124/8(20.0)

11:46 AM IST

Brilliant work by the Kiwi pacers again

It was mentioned in our preview that New Zealand have the most efficient pace unit in terms of economy in this World Cup - 6.4 runs per over. Today, Trent Boult. Tim Southee, Adam Milne and James Neesham conceded only 82 runs in their 116 overs combined, picking seven wickets as well. None of them went at an economy of more than 6 per over. As a result, Kane Williamson bowled only two overs each of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.

Najibullah Zadran fought well but Afghanistan might be at least 30 runs short given the true nature of the pitch. All rests on Afghanistan spinners now. And they have not been great at Abu Dhabi. The pitch at Abu Dhabi has not supported the spinners enough and that was evident in the figures of Sodhi and Santner. However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be bowling for the first time at this venue this World Cup. He can set the tone for his team. It would be interesting to see what he has in store.

AFG 124/8(20.0)

11:38 AM IST

Excellent last over by Neesham

You couldn't ask for a better last over. James Neesham had the fielder's support on the first ball which was saved from going for a six. But he has followed that delivery with five accurate deliveries. Nothing for Rashid Khan here as every ball is dot. He did connect the last ball but is holed out to a brilliant catch by Kane Williamson running backwards from his position at extra cover. Only 2 runs and a wicket off this last over.

Rashid c Williamson b Neesham 3 (7)

AFG 124/7(19.1)

11:34 AM IST

What a save by Mitchell

That was certainly going for a six. That should have been a six. But Daryl Mitchell has other ideas. Positioned at the cow corner, Mitchell keeps stepping back with his eyes on the ball and then leaps up with his arm outstretched. Gets the hold of the ball with his feet up in the air and throws it back in the field in time. Saves four runs.

AFG 121/7(18.4)

11:31 AM IST

Another one for Boult

Karim Janat would be disappointed with his placement there. Full and angling in towards his pads. The shot was on. Janat flicks it high but couldn't beat Ish Sodhi at deep square-leg who takes a good catch. Third wicket for Trent Boult. Afghanistan have lost three wickets in the last six balls.

Janat c Sodhi b Boult 2(2)

AFG 119/6(18.2)

11:28 AM IST

Zadran's knock comes to an end

That is the wicket New Zealand were aiming for. Not a bad stroke by Najibullah Zadran though. He struck it sweetly, he struck it quite straight, but James Neesham is terrific at the long-off boundary. He runs to his left at his full speed and puts in the dive to take an excellent low catch. Zadran departs for a brilliant knock of 73.

Zadran c Neesham b Boult 73 (48)

AFG 115/5(18.0)

11:26 AM IST

Nabi departs but Afghanistan get 14 off the over

Caught and bowled. Mohammad Nabi hit it straight towards Tim Southee who holds on to the ball. The skipper departs but overall, it is a good over for Afghanistan as it produced 14 runs, including a four and a six, both from the willow of Najibullah Zadran.

Nabi c&b Southee 14 (20)

AFG 110/4(17.3)

11:22 AM IST

Quick Byte

Najibullah Zadran joins Asghar Afghan in the list of Afghanistan batsmen to score multiple 50+ scores in an edition of T20 WC. Asghar scored two in 2016 edition.

AFG 89/4(14.5)

11:11 AM IST

Fifty for Zadran

Fifty for Najubullah Zadran. From 33 balls. The only batter in this innings who has found some momentum. five overs to go and with his eyes in, he can be destructive in the death overs. A big phase of the game coming up.

AFG 87/4(14.0)

11:07 AM IST

19 off the over

What an over for Afghanistan. Two sixes from Najibullah Zadran, the second in the cow corner area over a leaping Glenn Phillips. Brilliant running between the wickets around those two sixes to make it 19 off the over. Afghanistan run-rate back above 6 per over for the first time since the first over.

AFG 74/4(13.1)

11:04 AM IST

SIX!

It is Najibullah Zadran again to break the shackles. Mitchell Santner, bowling from around the wicket, wanted to bowl it across Zadran to keep it away from his arc. But he has bowled it wider than he would have liked, allowing Zadran to throw the kitchen sink at it. Struck straight down the ground for an 87-meter six. Thumped rather. cracking sound off the bat.

AFG 68/4(13.0)

11:02 AM IST

Another quite phase

As said before, the fall of Gulbadin Naib has pushed Afghanistan behind. It has forced Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran to focus on innings construction again. Only 12 runs in the last three overs.

AFG 56/4(10.0)

10:50 AM IST

Naib chops on

Just when a partnership was brewing, Afghanistan have lost another wicket. Not the best of deliveries by Ish Sodhi. Pitched it wide of the crease and it was turning further away. Gulbadin Naib tries to force it into the off side but without any footwork. Chops it on his stumps. The fourth wicket stand was 37 off 28 balls with Najubullah Zadran finding timely boundaries at the other end. This wicket, at the halfway mark, will push Afghanistan back again.

Naib b Sodhi 15 (18)

AFG 23/3(6.0)

10:33 AM IST

Powerplay done

This is Afghanistan's worst start in the tournament. They did lose four wickets in the powerplay against Pakistan but did well on the run-rate front. Here, they are three down with the run-rate below 6.

Afghanistan at the powerplay mark this World Cup: 55/1, 49/4, 50/0, 47/2 and 23/3 (today)

AFG 19/3(5.1)

10:27 AM IST

Pinned in front of stumps

That's plumb. Full and straight from Tim Southee. Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses it while trying to play it into the on-side. Afghanistan three down.

Gurbaz lbw b Southee 6 (9)

AFG 12/2(3.1)

10:21 AM IST

Zazai departs now

Hazratullah Zazai departs now. After 6 runs off the first two balls, this is turning into a poor start for Afghanistan. Back of a length from Trent Boult. Zazai wanted to nudge it into the on side but never seemed sure about the stroke. The ball also holds up a little in the surface. Leading edge balloons up to mid-wicket.

Zazai c Santner b Boult 2 (4)

AFG 8/1(2.2)

10:15 AM IST

Another efficient comeback by Kiwis results in a wicket

Efficient comeback from the Kiwis. After leaking 6 runs off the first two balls, Southee didn't concede a single run off his next four balls of the first over. Trent Boult allowed only 1 run in his first over. Only 1 runs in these 10 deliveries has resulted in a wicket for Adam Milne bowling the third over.

A short-pitched cross-seam delivery angling into Shahzad. The right-hander who was on the move to make room is cramped for space. He still goes to upper cut it but gets in an awkward position. Edges it behind the stumps and Devin Conway takes an excellent catch, managing to hold on to the ball after a juggle.

Shahzad c Conway b Milne 4 (11)

AFG 6/0(0.2)

10:05 AM IST

Shahzad starts with a boundary

Not the best of the starts by Tim Southee. A wide followed by a leg-stump delivery. However, Mohammad Shahzad takes the toll on his first delivery. He lofts a full delivery over the bowler's head to get the boundary count underway. A first ball boundary for the wicketkeeper batsman.

MUJEEB'S IMPACT

09:54 AM IST

Afghanistan can now implement their Plan A

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is a big inclusion for Afghanistan. He has picked five wickets in the powerplay at the economy rate of 3.8 in the two matches he has played in this World Cup. Mohammad Nabi tried to fill in for his absence in the last two games but was carted at 9.5 runs per over without picking a wicket. Now, Afghanistan can try to squeeze the Kiwis at the top and then apply pressure with Rashid Khan in the second half of the innings. They are also batting first which allows them to implement their Plan A.

PLAYING XIS

09:38 AM IST

One obvious change for the Afghans

As expected, Mujeeb Ur Rahman returns for Afghanistan, replacing the left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf. New Zealand are playing the same side.

Afghanistan XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi (c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

New Zealand XI: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Trent Boult

TOSS

09:36 AM IST

Afghanistan opt to bat

Afghanistan won the toss and they will bat first. After opting to bowl first against India, they are back to doing things their way. Kane Williamson says he would have opted to bat first as well.

PREVIEW

09:18 AM IST

Things to look out for

There are various factors, including the venue, which tilts the odds in the favor of the Kiwis. However, Afghanistan, by the virtue of their exponential rise can never be ruled out. Also, how does New Zealand fare against spin in T20Is?

Read the preview highlighting Afghanistan's match-up against the venue and the Kiwis, Martin Guptill 2.0, Afghanistan's intent against the efficient Kiwis and more: NZ, Afghanistan begin T20 rivalry with keen interest from India

BUILD-UP

09:11 AM IST

NZ v AFG

Hello, people. Welcome to Cricket.com's coverage of the 2021 T20 World Cup. It is a big match in the tournament. We have three of the four finalists with Pakistan, England and Australia sealing their spot. We can have the fourth one today if New Zealand manage to circumvent the Afghanistan scare. If they lose, they are out. Afghanistan would want to rise to the occasion and strengthen their claim with a win. There is a keen interest from a non-participating side, India. They will be backing the Afghans to stay alive in the tournament. The internet is lit with memes testament to India's support for the Mohammad Nabi-led side. Hence, this is a virtual quarterfinal which will decide the fate of not two but three teams. Also, it is the first time Afghanistan and New Zealand will lock horns in a T20I. Myself Shubh Aggarwal and will bring the action for you in this space. Looking forward to a cracker of a game.

NZ seal semi-finals spot with a clinical win

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