New Zealand vs Afghanistan, 16th Match at Chennai, World Cup 2023, Oct 18 2023 - Match Result

And with that one-sided affair coming to a close earlier than many of us anticipated, it's time for us to say goodnight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for India v Bangladesh clash. For now, this is Rvel Zahid saying goodbye on behalf of my co-commentator Ashish Pant and our scoring team. Cheers!

Do check out the match report by Ashish to review the events of the day

Tom Latham, New Zealand Captain: Pleasing start, another great performance today. We were put under pressure at certain times but putting pressure back on them at end of the innings was great. I think at that time we lost three wickets in a short span of time, we tried to get a partnership there...took it nice and deep, there were a few chances here and there I guess. We tried to capitalise on those chances. Glenn played a fantastic innings, took pressure of me. The guys set the tone at the top in first 10 overs and kept chipping in. Pleasing all around. (game versus India) I guess on the back of some good performances, we are stepping in the right way. We have a week or so and then we will play India and Australia, we are hoping to continue the momentum.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan Captain: Yeah, very disappointed because at this level you have to take those kind of catches. End of the day those catches hurt us otherwise team was doing well but the fielding made us feel a little bit down. Last six overs, a lot of runs (were made) by New Zealand, before that we dropped two catches before 40th over and the set batters were there, that's why we couldn't stop them but everything went their way. Yeah, the toss I can say...we couldn't judge properly the pitch. I think in the first innings, it was spinning and was a bit slow, we have bowled well but the fielding was not good. (on next match) tonight game will hurt us but we still have more games to come, next match is against Pakistan. We will go back and discuss where we can improve and will try to come back stronger.

Glenn Phillips, Player of the Match: Afghanistan spinners are incredibly talented. We did lose a couple of wickets early in the middle there, and just the way we went about was really pleasing to see. It was great how we were able to take it till the end and I think we understood what we could possibly get in last 10 overs. Was amazing how Chapman and Santner finished it. I thought 250 was par. We are in an environment where we keep working for each other and play as a teach. Latham was really good towards the end.

The points table is being fixed.

This has been a meek surrender from Afghanistan, and their decision to win the toss and field first didn't go according to plan. They were lacklustre in the fielding department and shelled too many catches and New Zealand feasted on those errors as expected. Afghanistan folded on 139 with Rahmat emerging as their top-scorer. Ferguson and Santner picked up three wickets each, while Boult snapped up two wickets. It's been a thoroughly professional and clinical display from New Zealand who remain unbeaten. Despite losing early wickets, New Zealand showed they had enough in their tank to get back on track, and they went on to put up a respectable total of 288, which proved to be more than enough to ruffle Afghanistan

RJ14: "Afghanistan should have opted for batting first. Put 250 on the board and Afghanistan could have been in the game. They should have at least learn from England's mistake against them. If England also opted to bat first against AFG so they could have easily win the game."

Donald Alexande: "What an awful, dare I say irresponsible, capitulation. No thought of net run rate there"

Zain: "There can be a possibility that NZ can also not make to top 4, all coming matches are against big guys, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Srilanka."

Naveed: "M. Nawaz should be watching Santnar carefully, on how to get middle over wickets."

sahid: "why they choose bat first, they should keep momentum from the last match. simple bat first and give the decant total for their bowler specially in Chennai condition. "

Manu Ajmani: "All the comments have mostly been centered towards a hope for Afghanistan's victory but keep in mind New Zealand has been very clinical here in all departments in this match and the 3 matches prior to today. It is still too early to predict but India vs New Zealand could be a fantastic final with Dhoni in the stands :)"

Arif: "@Rvel How lucky you are!! Just did commentary for 7 balls and you will have rest now. You didn't have expected that." I didn't even get warmed up properly and the game is already over!

Walt: "Afghanistan's fielding was woeful. Of course, it's all speculation as to how much damage it did, but I think that had the catches been held, then NZ might have only mustered 200 or so - a much more forgiving chase, and one that Afghanistan could've been very circumspect and conservative about with their chase."

Thank you, Ashish. Looks like we might not get a thriller, but there is still plenty to play for. A loss is not the worst possible result and taking care of that net run rate is important in the round-robin format where every team plays each other once. Even though the target is not that colossal, Afghanistan have found it tough to keep the asking rate in check. There was still a glimmer of hope when seasoned campaigner Mohammad Nabi was on the crease. Having said that, they should try to take the game deep and fight till the end.

Props to New Zealand's bowlers though who have stuck to their guns, been very tidy tonight, and bowled supremely well. Where do you think Afghanistan got it wrong today?

Here's Rvel

Salman nazir: "For the first time my comment gets published on Cricinfo about someone and that batsman gets out in the next over. Ok i jinxed it -_-" :D

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