The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has been an amazing treat for cricket aficionados this week, bringing up several great moments. In the latest match held on Wednesday, October 18 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, New Zealand faced off against Afghanistan in what was Match 16 of the tournament.
In the ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023 encounter between New Zealand and Afghanistan, it was Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghan captain, who won the all-important toss and elected to field first, prompting the Kiwis to set a target. New Zealand put up a decent total of 288 runs on the board, losing six wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips played notable innings, each reaching half-centuries. It was Mark Chapman’s late charge that pushed New Zealand’s score above the ordinary competitive range.
As the Afghan team began their chase, New Zealand’s opening bowlers, Matt Henry, and Trent Boult, got off to a flying start by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran early in the innings.
However, the 14th over of the game witnessed a fantastic moment. Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, was at the crease, facing Lockie Ferguson. It was around this vital juncture when Mitchell Santner pulled off one of the tournament’s most amazing catches.
Shahidi attempted to pull a short delivery from Lockie Ferguson, but his timing was off, and the ball headed into the square-leg region. Santner, positioned at mid-wicket, exhibited tremendous awareness. He rushed backward, leaped forward, and stretched his arm as though it had grown telescopic, pulling the ball out of thin air.
Also Read: ICC Rates Virat Kohli As The Best Fielder In The Ongoing World Cup 2023
This spectacular catch led to the ejection of Hashmatullah Shahidi, marking a critical moment in the game. It’s worth mentioning that the Afghan skipper had only managed to score 8 runs from 29 deliveries before his departure.
Afghanistan’s batting lineup suffered a major meltdown, consistently losing wickets until they were eventually dismissed for a meager 139 runs. New Zealand clinched a resounding victory, boasting a substantial lead of 149 runs. Key contributions came from Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson, both of whom were pivotal in the match, snatching three wickets each.
