New Zealand thump Afghanistan by six wickets
Napier, March 8: New Zealand bowled out Afghanistan for 186 and overhauled the target with six wickets to spare in a cricket World Cup Pool A match at McLean Park here on Sunday.
Veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori(4/18) and pacer Trent Boult (3/34) had reduced Afghanistan to 59/6 in 20th over. However, Samiullah Shenwari (54) and Najibullah Zadran (56) forged an 86-run partnership for the seventh wicket to bail the team out of the slump. Yet they were bowled out for 186 in 47.4 overs.
In pursuit of an easy target, the host hardly broke a sweat and got over the line with ease in 37th over. Skipper Brendon McCullum raced to a 19-ball 42 to provide a sparkling start.