AFG vs PNG: Fazalhaq Farooqi scripts history with his exceptional spell in Afghanistan's stunning T20 WC win against New Zealand

In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the ICC T20 World Cup history by defeating New Zealand in a Group C clash at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on June 8.

Led by their inspirational skipper Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's bowlers, especially Fazalhaq Farooqi, were instrumental in their remarkable win over the New Zealand team in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Afghanistan cricket team secured an emphatic 84-run win over New Zealand in their T20 World Cup 2024 match to stun the entire cricket world on Saturday.

New Zealand achieves embarrassing records during their shocking T20 World Cup 2024 loss to Afghanistan

It was Afghanistan’s first win against the Black Caps in T20I cricket, which would have certainly made their fans proud of their team. Afghanistan's historic comeback came just a day after co-hosts the USA stunned Pakistan with a thrilling victory in the Super Over in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Well, after being invited to bat first, Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 159/6, propelled by an outstanding innings of 80 runs off 56 balls from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and an impressive 44-run knock from Ibrahim Zadran. In response, New Zealand faltered under the pressure of Afghanistan's bowling attack, crumbling to a mere 75 runs in 15.2 overs.

It was New Zealand's second-lowest score in T20 World Cup history and fourth-lowest total in T20I cricket, as well as their biggest loss in terms of runs in the mega ICC event. The Afghan bowlers, spearheaded by captain Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, wreaked havoc on the New Zealand batting line-up.

Fazalhaq Farooqi's record-breaking spell powers Afghanistan to a historic win against New Zealand

Rashid recorded impressive figures of 4/17, while Farooqi matched his performance with an equally devastating spell of 4/17 against the Kiwis. With this spell, Farooqi etched his name into the record books, as the Afghan star became the first bowler to take more than four wickets in the back-to-back matches of the T20 World Cup.

Notably, Farooqi had snared five wickets for nine runs against Uganda in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener. Apart from Farooqi and Rashid, Mohammad Nabi also played a key role with the ball, picking up two crucial wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.00 in his four overs to significantly contribute to Afghanistan's historic win over the New Zealand team.

Farooqi's record-breaking performance with the new ball proved to be a game-changer for the Afghanistan cricket team against the Black Caps. The medium-pacer immediately made an impact by dismissing New Zealand opener Finn Allen for a golden duck with his very first delivery, a perfectly pitched full ball that swung in late, crashing into the leg stump.

Continuing his onslaught, Farooqi claimed the crucial wicket of Devon Conway in his next over, throwing a chip shot that landed safely in the hands of short extra cover. The highlight of his spell came when he dismissed Daryl Mitchell, as the Kiwi all-rounder fell into the trap of a back-of-a-length delivery that nipped back sharply, inducing an edge to the wicketkeeper.

Farooqi finished his spell by dismissing Matt Henry for 12 to send shockwaves through the New Zealand batting line-up. His exceptional form in the Powerplay has been evident since 2022, where he has consistently delivered outstanding performances. With 26 wickets at an economy rate of 5.85, he emerged as one of the most effective bowlers in the Powerplay.