New Zealand vs Afghanistan U19 World Cup: New Zealand Edge Past Afghanistan In Low-Scoring Thriller

Right then, that is it from this low-scoring thriller where New Zealand Under-19 gets their second win in a row while putting the Afghans on the brink of elimination. However, the action in the ICC Under-19 World Cup is going on as the hosts, South Africa U-19 is taking on England U-19 currently. You can just switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that game. Cheers!

Oscar Jackson, the victorious skipper of New Zealand Under-19 starts off by saying that it was a great game of cricket and they knew it would not be easy with the kind of bowlers in the Afghanistan side. He then talks about the toss and says it was a great day for bowling with the overcast conditions and flood lights on. He credits the bowling unit and mentions Matt Rowe's special performance with the ball. He further talks about the fielding that they fell short of in the previous game and how they worked on it to get better in this game. He then says that playing mystery spinners is not something they get a whole lot of back in their home it was a good challenge for them. He also talks about him and Sam Clode staying in and watching the ball from the hands and not the pitch. He concludes by appreciating Matt Rowe for his top performance throughout this game.

Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, the captain of Afghanistan Under-19  says that Allah Mohammad bowled really well and have themselves a chance in this game. Adds that they were 20-30 runs short in this game and just did not have enough runs to defend. Tells that it is their strategy to bat first and put runs on the board and they have a lot of quality spinners to defend it. Mentions that they were saving one over for Allah Mohammad for the bowlers to run through them but unfortunately that did not work out.

Matt Rowe is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding bowling efforts and for keeping his nerves in the end with the bat. He credits the Afghanistan Under-19 bowlers for the way they bowled and says he is just happy to get across the line. He further talks about his thoughts at the end with the bat and says he was waiting for the right ball to be in his zone and also backing Ryan Tsourgas at the other end and playing it to the merit. He then says the dismissal where Sam Clode caught off his bowling was his pick of the wickets for him. He then concludes there are more games to come so they will look forward to those and not jump on the celebrations as of now.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, the decision to bat first by Afghanistan Under-19 turned out to be a not-so-fruitful one as they were bowled out for just 91. They just couldn't handle the fiery pace attack of the Kiwis and Jamshid Zadran showed some sort of resilience and was the top-scorer with 22 runs. Matt Rowe led the attack for NZ with a fantastic five-wicket haul while Ryan Tsourgas and Ewald Schreuder picked up a couple each with Oscar Jackson chipping in with one as well. While chasing, the Kiwis were all over the pace and looked clueless against the spin bowling for the Afghans, but just managed to get the better of them in the end to take the two points.

Afghanistan Under-19, on the other hand, were exceptional to make a game out of this. They just did not have enough runs on the board. Even if they had something around 150, they would have been in with a great chance. However, even though Allah Mohammad absolutely ran through the Kiwi top order and Khalil Ahmed supported him effectively to put their opponents in a difficult position, they have far too many extras that ultimately cost them in this game. They pushed New Zealand Under-19 right till the end but just fell short. Allah Mohammad was the pick of the bowlers with his three wickets, while Khalil Ahmed and Arab Gul ended with two each. Naseer Khan Maroofkhil made things interesting by picking up one, but it just was no meant to be for them.

We have seen previously that chasing low targets can be tricky and this one was no different. The Kiwi batters looked out of sorts here. Their top order had absolutely no answers to the mystery spin of Allah Mohammad and they were reeling at 23/4 and then 52/6. Their skipper, Oscar Jackson took matters into his own hands and steadied the ship while finding support from Sam Clode. Both of them were able to see off Allah Mohammad and rotated the strike, but they did get lucky on a couple of occasions as well. The extras given by the Afghans helped them as well which kept taking the pressure off them. However, the skipper was dismissed on 26 and they had just two wickets remaining and still needed 10 runs to win. Ewald Schreuder was Mankaded by Naseer Khan Maroofkhil with two runs still needed, but Matt Rowe remained calm and hit the winning runs on the next ball to take his side home.

THE KIWIS WIN AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER HERE! We have witnessed arguably the best match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024 so far. It was a nail-biting finish at the Buffalo Park and we have had it all in this game. There will be some debates about that run-out at the non-strikers, but New Zealand Under-19 kept their calm and got over the line with just one wicket remaining. However, credit must go to Afghanistan Under-19 for the fight that they showed here and almost pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

Matt Rowe has done it! The hero with the ball has taken New Zealand Under-19 home with the bat as well! What a wonderful game of cricket this has been! Naseer Khan Maroofkhil drops this one short and outside off giving enough width and time for Matt Rowe to stay back in the crease and cut it through the gap between point and cover. The batters scamper for a couple of runs and finish things off well for the Kiwis.

OUT! RUN OUT AT THE NON-STRIKER'S END! Ewald Schreuder is sent back to the hut being run out at the nonstriker's end. The keeper and the bowler have been observing Ewald Schreuder walking down the track early and quickly get on a chat. Naseer Khan Maroofkhil comes to bowl from around the wicket and stops through the round-arm action. He gets the ball to his right hand and knocks the bails at the bowler's end. The Umpire goes upstairs to check. The replay shows that Ewald Schreuder was way down the pitch before the ball was bowled and is given out. A controversial wicket that will be spoken of for days to come but that is out and fair with the laws. New Zealand Under-19 now need 2 runs to win and Afghanistan Under-19 just need a wicket. Fancy a super over here?

Ryan Tsourgas is the last man. New Zealand Under-19 still need two runs to win.

Drops the length just short and outside off, Matt Rowe blocks it well.

Was there an inside edge? Perhaps just an over-ambitious appeal. Drops it short and gets the ball to rip off the deck outside off. Ewald Schreuder tries to play straight but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Quicker, full and on off, Ewald Schreuder taps it towards short covers.

Quicker, short and on middle, Matt Rowe moves back and clips it through square leg for a run. Just two needed now for New Zealand Under-19.

Flatter, full and on middle, Matt Rowe tucks it straight to short mid-wicket.

Fuller again and on the pads, Matt Rowe does even better to block it out.

Goes fuller and on off, Matt Rowe blocks it on the front foot.

Darts it into the off stumps, Matt Rowe knocks it to mid on and gets a single to end the over.