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Player of the Match
Player of the Match

All-star New Zealand knock out Afghanistan and India

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Agarkar: New Zealand bowlers almost intimidated the Afghanistan batters (2:34)

New Zealand restricted Afghanistan to 124/8 in 20 overs (2:34)

New Zealand 125 for 2 (Williamson 40*, Conway 36*) beat Afghanistan 124 for 8 (Najibullah 73, Boult 3-17, Southee 2-24) by eight wickets

New Zealand were clinical. As they have now made the semi finals of four World Cups in a row (including ODI World Cups), this is perhaps not surprising.

Needing a win to ensure themselves a place in the final four, they produced what turned out to be a match-winning powerplay. Kane Williamson cycled his three quicks - Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Adam Milne - through the first six overs, giving them two apiece. They each claimed a wicket, and helped keep Afghanistan to less than four an over while the fielding restrictions were in operation.

Afghanistan recovered slightly, through a Najibullah Zadran half-century, but apart from one 19-run over against Mitchell Santner, never really managed to find momentum after that awful start. They spluttered their way to 124 for 8, and were always going to struggle to defend it.

In response, New Zealand strode to 45 for 1 at the end of their powerplay, and then Kane Williamson and Devon Conway came together to stroll to the finish - their unbeaten 68-run stand taking up 56 balls, even as the side won with 11 balls to spare.

With this win they have not only ended Afghanistan's semi-final hopes, but also those of India, whom they had beaten earlier in the tournament.

New Zealand quicks scythe through Afghanistan's top order
Afghanistan banked on their attack when they chose to bat first, with mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman back in the lineup after recovering from injury. They needed a decent batting Powerplay, though, and could hardly have done any worse. Mohammad Shahzad was the first to go, trying to larrup an Adam Milne bouncer over third man, and managing only to send an edge through to wicketkeeper Conway (who did excellently to get a glove behind it, and complete the catch on the second rebound), in the third over. Trent Boult then had Hazratullah Zazai caught at short midwicket. Soon after, Tim Southee had Rahmanullah Gurbaz lbw. After six overs, Afghanistan were 23 for 3, and had struck just three boundaries - one of which was an unintentional top edge.

Afghanistan fizzle at the death
Despite the start, Afghanistan did recover slightly through the middle period, through a 37-run stand between Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, then a 59-run partnership between Najibullah and Mohammad Nabi. But they could not fire at the death.

In the last six overs, Afghanistan managed just 37 runs, as they lost four wickets. Trent Boult picked up two dismissals in his final over to end with the game's best figures, of 3 for 17.

New Zealand ace the chase
It didn't need much chasing, really. At no point did New Zealand seem rushed. Mujeeb struck at the start of the fourth over, when a carrom ball that didn't really turn caught Daryl Mitchell's outside edge, but Afghanistan really needed a couple more wickets in the Powerplay if they were really going to challenge New Zealand.

Instead, Kane Williamson came out and played an ice-cool innings, almost never taking a risk, working the singles, striking only the occasional boundary, as he strolled to 40 not out off 42. Conway's stay was not quite as assured, but despite having nicked a ball early in his innings (Afghanistan barely appealed), made his way to 36 not out off 32.

The whole thing was drama-free.

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st26MJ GuptillDJ Mitchell
2nd31MJ GuptillKS Williamson
3rd68KS WilliamsonDP Conway

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

First Round Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33063.754
NAM3214-0.523
IRE3122-0.853
NED3030-2.46
First Round Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SCOT33060.775
BAN32141.733
OMA3122-0.025
PNG3030-2.655
Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG54182.464
AUS54181.216
SA54180.739
SL5234-0.269
WI5142-1.641
BAN5050-2.383
Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
PAK550101.583
NZ54181.162
IND53261.747
AFG52341.053
NAM5142-1.89
SCOT5050-3.543