New Zealand made it three wins out of three at the World Cup after James Neesham’s maiden international five-wicket haul laid the foundations for a comfortable win over Afghanistan at Taunton. Afghanistan had motored along to 66 without loss after being asked to bat first in this day-night encounter but the intervention of Neesham (five for 31) led to a collapse from which they never fully recovered. New Zealand are therefore top of the embryonic standings after routine victories over Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, either side of a nail-biter against Bangladesh, but tougher tests lie ahead, starting with India next Thursday. The day had offered plenty of promise for Afghanistan as Hazratullah Zazai and Noor Ali Zadran — the uncle of the dropped Mujeeb Ur Rahman and drafted in because of Mohammad Shahzad’s tournament-ending knee injury — flourished. It may not have mattered as Williamson picked up the tempo to get his side over the line, the New Zealand captain fittingly scoring the winning run.

Source: The Irish Times June 08, 2019 20:03 UTC