All-rounder Jimmy Neesham starred with the ball, returning his best ODI figures as the BLACKCAPS defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets at County Ground in Taunton.
Neesham took 5-31 off his 10 overs - the second five wicket bag of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and his 50th ODI wicket.
Lockie Ferguson played a superb supporting role with the ball, claiming 4-37 from his 9.1 overs.
Chasing 173 for victory, Afghanistan struck with the first ball of the innings to remove Martin Guptill, however, Kane Williamson was on hand to guide his team to victory, the captain finishing 79*.
AS IT HAPPENED...
🏏 WE MEET AGAIN: This will be the second ODI meeting between Afghanistan and New Zealand; their only previous encounter ended in a six-wicket win to the BLACKCAPS when they clashed at the @cricketworldcup 🏏 @OptaJim #Stat #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/QmXWiYZnyr
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Wins games, signs autographs & does interviews 🙌 #SUPERSANTNER #Taunton pic.twitter.com/zZivYClRFt
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Look! No look! We’ve won the toss and will be bowling first in Taunton. No changes to the team - Munro opens with bat, Henry with ball 🏏 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG pic.twitter.com/tQ0KHLb36L
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
A quick pep talk from bowling coach Shane Jurgensen before the bowlers go out and do their thing at the @cricketworldcup vs 🇦🇫
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG pic.twitter.com/DKbu3DG5ZA
Off they go! We’re bowling in Taunton against Afghanistan with an unchanged XI. Henry & Boult to start. FULL HOUSE 👀👀 #CWC19 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/Y6xcj4qJLR
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
What a retirement plan at Taunton. Buying an apartment, brewing a pot of tea and watching cricket on your balcony ad infinitum. pic.twitter.com/y2w7Zmpvma
— Andrew Alderson (@aldersonnotes) June 8, 2019
DOUBLE BREAKTHROUGH! It's golden arm @JimmyNeesh who takes the first wicket, Hazratullah Zazai (34) skying one to Colin Munro. Lockie Ferguson then gets in on the act strangling other opener Noor Ali Zadran (31) down the leg side 🏏 👏🏽 🇳🇿#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG pic.twitter.com/4xgVNei51n
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Jimmy 'The Arm' Neesham strikes again! He finds the outside half of Zurmatai's bat and Guptill does the rest in the gully 👏🏽 💪 🇦🇫 | 70/3 after 13 overs
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/WatlrAFyPm
WICKET JUICE! @JimmyNeesh has his third wicket (3-9 off 2.1 overs) this time caught behind with the help of Tom Latham. Afghanistan review but ultra edge seals Gulbadin Naib's fate. Time for a drink here in Taunton...
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG pic.twitter.com/oZNdcqAv3f
☔️ Oh no! A light shower has come over the ground at Taunton. Players have rushed off - Afghanistan 84/4 after 20 overs 🏏
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Stay on top of developments, download the NZC App 📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/g0qTSFa0Qi
Out we go again after a short break for rain... Looks like de Grandhomme has the ball 👍🏽
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
🇦🇫 | 84/4 after 20 overs 🏏
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/9L64e5bFQn
🌧 The rain has returned 😬 It's a bit heavier than before, but the skies are light on the horizon 😕 #CurrentSituation ⬇️
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/vBAlw8Neg7
WICKET x 2! It's that man Jimmy 'The Arm' Neesham once again 💪 Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran both fiddle at one outside off and Latham takes two simple catches with the gloves 🧤
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/6zWgSzko97
ON FIRE FOR FIVE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 @JimmyNeesh becomes the second bowler at this 2019 @cricketworldcup to claim a five wicket bag. The fifth was also his 50th ODI wicket and it doubles as his best bowling figures in ODIs to date! #StatAttack #StatMeUp #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG pic.twitter.com/KxuCGXcPU9
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Colin de Grandhomme strikes! He floats one up outside off and Ikram Ali Khil picks out Guptill at backward point. He completes a wicket maiden - the second of the innings 👏🏽 🇦🇫 131/7
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/eNNNaIMEUW
OUCH! Ferguson has the wicket of Rashid Khan but the Afghan star has taken a blow to the helmet/hand from a rising delivery. The NZ players show concern for Rashid but he manages to walk off 🏏👏🏽
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/5aSOgn3rnT
FANS! The Kiwi fans are happy as Lockie Ferguson takes his third wicket - a swipe from Aftab Alam is collected by Tom Latham for his fifth catch of the innings!
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/uO4rcedgZV
GOT EM! Ferguson gets the final wicket of the innings to finish with 4-37. Well bowled!
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/qebLifFDSS
“Happy with the result yeh but I was just trying to do a job for the team & it ended up being my day. We’ll still need to bat well as they’ve got some quality bowlers,” Jimmy Neesham post his best bowling of 5-31 #NZvAFG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/jOS52av6Wh
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
ALL SORTS EARLY! We lose Guptill first ball of the innings from an inside edge that spoons off his thigh pad to cover. Munro then smacks a couple to the fence to get the total moving...
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/eyiB6dG9lI
Class effort! Superb supporting role from Lockie Ferguson with 4-31 also! #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #NZvAFG #cricket pic.twitter.com/gyjxoDPCHN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Stunning evening in Taunton for a run-chase. BLACKCAPS 41-2 after 8 overs with both openers out. The target is 172 for victory. Williamson is 14* 🏏#NZvAFG #CWC19 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/15SDuOuZxj
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
Rashid Khan has failed a concussion test and will not bowl as a precaution. He took a blow to the helmet from a Lockie Ferguson delivery https://t.co/YENm1kCqyW | #CWC19 | #AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/7ClbI1Orld
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 8, 2019
Early joy for Afghanistan who are bringing the energy while their fans bring the noise in Taunton! BLACKCAPS 67-2 after 15. Card | https://t.co/bOaWYPhbNS #NZvAFG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/WEPwaEyJz2
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
The spirit is strong in this one 🏏#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #SuperSantner #CWC19 https://t.co/2jgjzO4FQF
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
5️⃣0️⃣ for Kane Williamson from 77 balls. A controlled knock by the captain as we close within 50 runs of the 173-run target in Taunton #NZvAFG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/5Yt8ygz8hI
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
There it is! Kane hits the winnings runs with a flick to fine leg, he finishes 79* (99) and Latham 13* (18) #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 @cricketworldcup 🏏
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019
📱| https://t.co/aU5ayqheAz pic.twitter.com/SnNxbsbMfH
🤝WELL PLAYED 🤝 Captain Kane leads off after an unbeaten 79*, the BLACKCAPS are building a website to start their @cricketworldcup campaign WWW #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CWC19 #cricket pic.twitter.com/ZmOQRtFSfv
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 8, 2019