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In the 29th match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan faced Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Afghan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bowl first. PNG set a target of 96 runs, which Afghanistan chased down in 15.1 overs with seven wickets in hand, securing a spot in the Super-8. As a result, New Zealand has been eliminated from the tournament.
Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea Highlights
In the 29th match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan defeated PNG by seven wickets at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Afghan captain Rashid Khan opted to bowl first, and PNG was bowled out for 95 runs in 19.5 overs. Afghanistan chased the target in 15.1 overs, losing only three wickets. With this victory, Afghanistan became the second team from Group C to qualify for the Super-8, alongside the already qualified West Indies. Meanwhile, New Zealand's campaign ended here.
Papua New Guinea's Innings
PNG had a poor start, with captain Assad Vala scoring only three runs and Tony Ura making 11 runs. Lega Siaka and Sese Bau were dismissed without scoring, while Hiri Hiri was out for one run, taken by Naveen-ul-Haq. Chad Soper (9) and Norman Vanua (0) were run out. Kiplin Doriga top-scored with 27 runs, while Semo Kamea managed two runs. John Kariko remained not out at four runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the most successful bowler for Afghanistan, taking three wickets, followed by Naveen-ul-Haq with two wickets and Noor Ahmad with one.
Afghanistan's Innings
Semo Kamea clean bowled Ibrahim Zadran for a duck. Ali Nao clean bowled Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 11 runs off seven balls. Norman Vanua clean bowled Azmatullah Omarzai for 13 runs in the ninth over. Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi then formed an unbeaten 46-run partnership, with Naib scoring 49 runs off 36 balls, including four fours and two sixes, and Nabi contributing 16 runs.
New Zealand's Record in World Cups
The New Zealand team was eliminated at the group stage of the T20 World Cup. This is the first time in 37 years that the Kiwi team has been knocked out in the group stage or the first round of a World Cup, with the last such occurrence in the 1987 ODI World Cup. In the 1983 ODI World Cup, New Zealand also failed to progress past the group stage. Historically, the Kiwi team has reached at least the second round in every T20 World Cup.
In T20 World Cups, New Zealand exited in the Super-8 stage in 2009, 2010, and 2012, reached the Super-10 stage automatically in 2014 but were eliminated there. They reached the semifinals in 2007, 2016, and 2022, and were runners-up in 2021.
In ODI World Cups, New Zealand reached the semifinals in 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011, and 2023. They were runners-up in 2015 and 2019. In 1996, they were defeated in the quarterfinals, and in 2003, they exited in the Super-6 stage.
