History created, World Cup record broken! New Zealand stun Afghanistan with epic 183-run chase

New Zealand chase down record total in T20 WC match vs AFG [Source: AFP Photo]

The New Zealand team created history on Sunday as the Kiwis defeated Afghanistan in a nail-biter, and in the process chased their highest successful total in T20 World Cups. At one stage, the Afghans had the game in the palm of their hands, but in the middle-overs, the Kiwis bounced back to clinch the game.

Afghanistan posted a competitive 182 runs on the board, batting first. On a tricky Chepauk wicket, the total looked difficult, and the Black Caps lost two early wickets as well. However, the middle-order batters fired all guns blazing and eclipsed their previous record as the team chased a mammoth target.

New Zealand's highest successful chase in T20 World Cups

The Kiwis created history as the tricky target of 183 was chased down, and it was their highest successful chase in the World Cups. In the 2021 edition, the team chased 167 against England, and 12 years ago in the 2024 campaign, the Black Caps hunted down 152.

Other notable record achieved by the Kiwis

The game against Afghanistan had the second highest run-aggregate involving New Zealand in a T20 World Cup clash. The match against India in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup had 370 runs, and this game against Afghanistan accumulated 365 runs.

The third spot in the list is occupied in the match against Sri Lanka, where the two teams aggregated 348 runs in the 2012 edition.

In the recently concluded match vs Afghanistan, one of the Kiwi players entered the history books. Tim Seifert, the power-packed opener, became the fifth highest run-getter from his team in T20I format.

How New Zealand created history on Sunday

The Afghan side batted first, and while most expected them to get bundled out quickly, the Asian side showcased their class as they batted with near perfection. The team lost two early wickets, but then a crucial partnership was forged between Sediqullah Atal, and Gulbadin Naib.

Naib was the star man for the Afghanistan side as he blasted a quick-fire 35-ball 63, and alongside Atal (29), and Rasooli (20), the team posted a competitive total.

In reply, the Kiwis suffered the same fate as Mujeeb-ur-Rahman struck with his golden arm and plucked two early wickets to give a massive scare. However, just like the Afghanistan side, there was a key partnership between Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert.

While Tim Seifert scored a brisk 65 off 42, Phillips smashed 42 off 25 balls to take the Kiwis closer to the target. The finishing touches was provided by Mitch Santner, and Daryl Mitchell as the duo played finishing cameos and took the New Zealand past the winning line as the team chased down a historic total.

With this win, the Kiwis sit at the top of the table, and the Afghans will ruin the missed chances as they had the match after taking two early Kiwi wickets.