Tim Seifert’s fifty drives New Zealand to five-wicket T20 World Cup win over Afghanistan | Cricket Information – The Instances of India – Imperial Wire

New Zealand’s Tim Seifert (PTI Photograph/R Senthilkumar)

Tim Seifert’s trademark aggression lit up New Zealand’s chase as they secured a five-wicket win over Afghanistan of their Group D conflict of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Chasing 183, Seifert lived as much as his ‘Bam Bam’ nickname with a commanding 65 off 42 balls, putting seven fours and three sixes to maintain the chase firmly below management. His innings ensured New Zealand crossed the road with minimal fuss regardless of an early stumble.

That stumble got here courtesy of a quick spell of brilliance from Mujeeb ur Rahman, who eliminated Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in consecutive deliveries within the second over, leaving New Zealand reeling at 14 for 2. Nevertheless, Seifert discovered the proper ally in Glenn Phillips, and the duo rebuilt with intent. Their 74-run stand for the third wicket, scored in simply 47 balls, turned the momentum decisively in New Zealand’s favour. Seifert introduced up his half-century from 39 balls with a towering six off Mohammad Nabi, and because the innings progressed, the pitch supplied much less help to the spinners. Phillips took the assault to Rashid Khan, dispatching him for a 4 and a six as New Zealand surged forward. Afghanistan did handle late strikes, with Nabi dismissing Seifert and Rashid accounting for Phillips. Seifert, although, made full use of a reprieve on 48 when Rashid put down a return catch. By the point each batters departed, the job was practically executed, and Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner calmly polished off the remaining 28 runs. Earlier, Afghanistan posted 182 for six, a complete that felt barely under-par on a floor with some slowness. Veteran Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a fluent 63 off 35 balls, whereas Sediqullah Atal contributed 29 in a third-wicket stand of 79 from 51 deliveries. Regardless of the partnership, Afghanistan’s innings lacked explosive acceleration. Their progress was regular moderately than spectacular, reaching 44 for 2 within the Energy Play, 77 for 2 at midway and 130 for 3 after 15 overs. The ultimate 5 overs yielded 52 runs, however they’d have hoped for extra. Rahmanullah Gurbaz regarded in good contact earlier than Lockie Ferguson’s slower ball shattered his stumps within the sixth over. In the identical over, Ferguson additionally eliminated Ibrahim Zadran, utilizing his leg-cutters successfully. Naib reached his fifty in simply 29 balls and injected momentum by taking up Jacob Duffy with two sixes and a 4. Atal supported nicely however was dismissed by Duffy, a second that allowed Naib to mix with Darwish Rasooli for a brisk 33-run stand as Afghanistan crossed 150. Nevertheless, Naib’s dismissal to Rachin Ravindra within the 18th over stalled the late cost. Azmatullah Omarzai struck a few sixes on the finish to push Afghanistan previous 180, but it surely was not fairly sufficient in opposition to a composed New Zealand chase.