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Having qualified for the semi-finals of the last three editions of the T20 World Cup, New Zealand have suffered a massive jolt in their bid to qualify for the final in the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup. The Kiwis were steamrolled by a resurgent Afghanistan side in their opening game, going down by 84 runs.
The Blackcaps looked scratchy right from the outset and the lack of match practice was quite evident. Most of the New Zealand batting department warmed the benches during IPL 2024, which didn't provide the ideal match practice ahead of this showpiece event.
New Zealand never seemed to be in the game and looked rusty all through the course of the match against Afghanistan. The bowlers created some chances in the first 10 overs but none of the fielders could support their bowlers, which eventually propelled the Afghans to a more than competitive score of 159.
Fazalhaq Farooqi wreaked the top order early by bowling superb lines and moving the ball both ways. After the initial burst from Farooqi, it was the spin department that blew the Kiwis away and none of the batters could make a significant contribution.
Another defeat and New Zealand could well be out of the competition. They will square off against co-hosts West Indies in their next game on Thursday, June 13, and until they rise to the occasion, it could be a forgettable event for the Kiwis.
Having said that, let us have a look at three possible things New Zealand need to do right to beat West Indies and keep their Super Eight hopes alive:
#1 The fielding efforts have to improve drastically
It was a shoddy performance on the field from New Zealand in their match against Afghanistan. Several fielding lapses helped Afghanistan gain from strength to strength and eventually posted a very good score. It was Fabian Allen who gave life to Ibrahim Zadran on 13, while Devon Conway had a tough time behind the stumps.
He failed to gather the ball on several occasions which resulted in Afghanistan piling the agony on New Zealand. The fielding lapses continued throughout the day which resulted in them conceding 159 which proved to be more than for the Afghans. The Kiwis have to get the fielding right against West Indies to keep their hopes alive.
#2 The batters need to spend some time out in the middle
Rather than taking the aggressive approach right from the outset, the New Zealand batters should look to settle into their innings rather than going hammers and tongs. Finn Allen going for a big shot off the very first ball started the slide for New Zealand they could never really recover from the jolt.
With so many players having warmed the benches during the IPL, they haven't had enough match practice and that is the reason most of them looked very rusty. If they manage to time the ball well and get a feel of the conditions, batting will become a lot easier as the game progresses.
In a must-win game against the Caribbeans, New Zealand have to put up a much better performance with the bat and give their bowlers some cushion especially if they are bathing first. Captain Kane Williamson will be hoping that his side rises to the occasion.
#3 The bowling attack should stick to the lengths that are suited for Trinidad
The 9th edition of the T20 World Cup has already witnessed some low-scoring thrillers. While the USA leg (especially in New York) has been very challenging for the batters, it hasn't been too much different in the Caribbean shores. Afghanistan comfortably defended 159 against New Zealand on a good pitch.
The star-studded New Zealand bowling attack needs to stick to the hard lengths during the middle overs. Too full or too short will allow the whirlwind West Indies batting lineup to cash in on anything loose. New Zealand will need their bowlers to step up if they are to brush past the two-time champions.
