NZ vs AFG LIVE score, T20 World Cup 2024: Gurbaz smacks half century to take Afghanistan past 100; AFG 102/0 (14)

Henry replaces Boult. He surprises Gurbaz with a short one, a miscue but it lands safe in between three NZ fielders. It has been that kind of a night for the Kiwis

Santner replaces Ferguson. Wonderful running between the wickets from Gurbaz and Ibrahim as they get an unlikely double. Gurbaz takes a single and that’s 100 up for Afghanistan. Good passage of play for Rashid Khan’s men

NZ vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2024: Gurbaz-Ibrahim register second consecutive hundred partnership

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran registered their second consecutive hundred-run partnership in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 during the match against New Zealand in Guyana on Saturday.

Boult is back into the attack, replaces Bracewell. Short and outside off, Gurbaz goes down the track and hits it straight for a SIX! Boult cramps Gurbaz for space, he tucks it close but steals a single. Short and pace off the ball, Gurbaz plays it for a single and brings up his 50! 

Bangladesh has won the toss and decided to field first vs Sri Lanka. Click the link below to follow the match live: 

SL vs BAN Live Score, T20 World Cup 2024: Bangladesh wins toss, opts to field against Sri Lanka; DDS replaces Sadeera

SL vs BAN Live Score: Follow for all the live match updates from the T20 World Cup 2024 group stage match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh happening in Texas.

Ferguson continues. A couple of runs to get things going. Slightly short towards middle and leg, Ibrahim stands and delivers, uses his wrists to get yet another SIX! 10 runs from the over

Bracewell continues. Flighted and straight, Gurbaz latches on to it and whacks it over the ropes. Glenn Phillips tried his best to keep it inside but fails. First maximum of the match. Slightly outside off this time but it doesn’t matter, Ibrahim swings hard at it and clears the boundary. Afghanistan getting a move on. And another one, the Afghan openers are dealing in sixes now. Bracewell directed it towards the leg stump, Gurbaz makes room and smokes it over deep mid wicket for a SIX! 

Ferguson continues. He has been exceptional thus far. Three dots on the trot. Make that four, bouncer outside off, Ibrahim swings and misses. ANOTHER ONE GOES DOWN! TOUGH CHANCE THOUGH! Another short one, Ibrahim flat batted it and tried to clear the infield but it was near Williamson’s vicinity, he jumps in an attempt to take it one-handed but squanders it 

Bracewell continues. Wide outside off, Ibrahim drives it deep to get a single and that’s 50 up for Afghanistan. Three runs off the over

Lockie Ferguson replaces Santner. Full and straight, Gurbaz hits it straight at the non-striker’s stumps. Ibrahim was a good couple of yards outside as Ferguson uproots the stumps. Umpire decides to go upstairs. Replays show Ibrahim reached back just in time. Good over from Ferguson, just two runs came off it 

Mitchell Bracewell replaces Henry. Full and just outside off, Gurbaz comes down the track and hits it hard but there’s protection in the deep, single. Tidy over, just three off it 

Santner continues. Wide outside off, Gurbaz plays it late towards short third. Mix-up in the middle but Conway misses an easy run-out opportunity. Dreadful start from New Zealand. Santner straightens this and the ball drifts onto Ibrahim’s pads. Huge shout and it’s given! But Ibrahim decides to take the DRS and what a call that was, replay shows the ball was indeed missing the stumps! Slightly full and outside off, Ibrahim opens the face of the bat and lofts it over covers for a FOUR! 

Change of ends for Henry as he repalces Boult. Back of a length, Ibrahim gives himself room but is decieved by the change of pace as he skies it but it falls safe. A HUGE CHANCE GOES BEGGING! Henry went towards the middle and leg, Ibrahim lofted it straight to Finn Allen at deep backward square and he missed a sitter

Mitchell Santner replaces Henry. He goes full to start things off as Gurbaz is trapped leg before. Huge appeal but the umpire thinks otherwise, Williamson takes his time to decide against going upstairs. Santner goes legside, the ball takes a deflection off Gurbaz’ pads and runs fine, couple of runs collected. Much straighter this time, Gurbaz goes down the track but it takes a thick inside edge, beats the keeper and runs away for a FOUR! 

Boult continues. Just one off the first three deliveries. Slightly short from Boult and he angles it in towards Gurbaz as he takes one on his pads, muted appeal from the bowler but the umpire is unmoved, leg byes given. Tight over, just four off it 

Matt Henry to bowl the second. Short and just outside off, Ibrahim jabs it between the cover and point fielder to collect a double. Henry angles it inside this time, Ibrahim swings and it takes an inside edge and runs past the keeper for a FOUR! Towards the pads and Ibrahim flicks it towards the legside for another FOUR! A missed opportunity? It looked like the ball took a deflection off Ibrahim’s gloves but Conway fails to pouch it. Leg-byes given eventually. Back of a length and outside off this time, Gurbaz goes down the track but it takes an outside edge and runs away for a FOUR! It’s been that kind of a start for the Afghans. Expensive over for NZ

Boult to Gurbaz. Wide outside off, Gurbaz drive and misses. Hint of swing from Boult as he bowls a low full toss, Gurbaz flicks it, the ball was in the air for a while but it safe, double and it’s first runs on the board. Boult goes slightly short, Gurbaz makes room for himself and smacks it through covers for a FOUR! Six runs off the first over

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran open for Afghanistan while Trent Boult gets ready with the new ball

The officials walk into the middle, shortly followed by the players as the venue gets ready for the national anthems

NZ: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

AFG: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

New Zealand wins toss and elects to bowl first

Lot of changes for NZ this time. Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Rachin Ravindra and Jimmy Neesham miss out. 

Rashid Khan on the other hand says Mujeeb ur Rahman is out of the clash due to an injury

Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 

Batters: Kane Williamson, Daryll Mitchell, Ibrahim Zadran, Rachin Ravindra 

All-rounders: Mohammed Nabi, Mitchell Santner, Azmatullah Omarzai

Bowlers: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan

Team composition: NZ 6:5 AFG | Credits left: 10

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Glenn Phillips

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

NZ: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.

AFG: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.

The match between New Zealand and Afghanistan can be streamed live on the Disney+Hotstar app/website. The game will also be telecast live across the Star Sports Network

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the T20 World Cup