ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts as Afghanistan's Batting Once Again Collapses

Afghanistan scored 172 after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to bowl first in the 13th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 against Afghanistan. The Afghan team got off to their best start of the tournament as Hazratullah Zazai and his new opening partner Noor Ali Zadran added 66 runs for the opening alliance.

Furthermore, both the batsmen scored their runs at a brisk pace as they were able to hit the ground running. However, the Afghanistan team lost three wickets on the score of 66 runs. Zazai was the first to go when he was dismissed James Neesham with Colin Munro taking the catch.

Afghanistan collapsed like matchsticks after good opening stand.

Noor Ali Zadran didn’t have the rub of the green on his side as he got a faint edge down the leg-side to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Subsequently, Rahmat Shah closed the bat face earlier than he should have. Thus, he got a leading edge which was taken by Martin Guptill at the point region.

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Hence, Afghanistan slumped from 66-0 to 66-3 in no time. Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib who had played two good knocks in the previous match got a faint edge to James Neesham. However, Naib could not pick the edge and decided to send the decision upstairs for the review. But Naib found there was a spike on Snickometer and he had walk back to the dressing room.

Furthermore, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan and Ikram Alikhil could not reach the double figures. On the other hand, Hashmatullah Shahidi helplessly saw his partners come and go back to the pavilion. The southpaw scored a gutsy fifty off 84 balls.

New Zealand medium pacer James Neesham was the pick of the Blackcaps bowlers as he scalped a fine five-wicket haul. Neesham conceded only 31 runs in his five overs. Lockie Ferguson took three wickets whereas Colin de Grandhomme took one wicket.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Afghanistan’s innings:

Afghanistan Have Been Really Disappointing #AFGvNZ

— Chatil Panditasekara (@ChatilPandi) June 8, 2019

so much hype for afghanstan team #CWC19 #AFGvNZ no batting power ability to rotate strike positive cricket . only two or three cricketer team (Rashid nabi zaizai)

— Yawar Azam (@AzamYawar) June 8, 2019

Hashmatullah half century banale out hojaega #AFGvNZ

— S. (@SaudinAudi) June 8, 2019

Afghanistan team is officially a laughingstock. This is NOT cricket #AFGvNZ #CWC19

— Akbar Khan (@ProspectAFG) June 8, 2019

Another all too brief and entertaining cameo comes to an end for #AFG
Aftab Alam gone for 14 off 10 as Tom Latham snares a 5th catch of the innings. Ferguson gets his 3rd wicket.
147-9 (35.4)#AFGvNZ #bbccricket #CWC19

— Adam Williams (@adam_j_williams) June 8, 2019

That wasn’t going to last long – Aftab was having a ball swinging hard at everything, but the top edge up in the air felt inevitable.

Hamid Hassan has to stick around with Hashmatullah, and try & sneak Afghanistan to half a score.#AFGvNZ?????   @guerillacricket @GuerillaSA

— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) June 8, 2019

Alam was entertaining with his one shot. Feels like we'll be on the motorway pretty early this evening. #AFGvNZ

— Chris Holt (@chriswholt) June 8, 2019

Blackcaps have an easy win today #AFGvNZ

— S. (@SaudinAudi) June 8, 2019

Just I want to laugh at this little very old grand pa @rashidkhan_19 ??
He said winning with SL is so easy ?? Minnows, #CWC19 #ENGvBAN #AFGvNZ #NZvsAFG

— Ŝʍɨʟєy ɮօY™??‍ (@MRoshanOfficial) June 8, 2019

I tell you New Zealand are worth a bet to win the World Cup, solid all round team with destructive&classy batsmen & some damn good bowlers
Afghanistan 139/8 #AFGvNZ #CWC19

— Ian (@Mancman10) June 8, 2019

Not surprising, Afghanistan are crashing to a big defeat #NZVAFG #AFGvNZ #CWC19 https://t.co/q4jRzk9mcP

— SirDonBradman (@BradmanSir) June 8, 2019

Afghanistan losing wickets to part-timers ???#AFGvNZ

— srikrishna ? (@1998Srikrishna) June 8, 2019

#Neesham bowled a superb spell of 10 overs 31 runs and 5 wickets . Superb stuff #CWC19 #AFGvNZ

— SRK (@shah_zuli786) June 8, 2019

afghanstan Africa almost out in the beginning of #CWC19 #AFGvNZ 3rd defeat in a row for both

— Yawar Azam (@AzamYawar) June 8, 2019

Lockie Ferguson is quiet underrated as a bowler!
⚫He's got pace!
⚫Hits the hard length!
⚫Bowls some deadly bouncer!@BLACKCAPS has got some lethal bowling attack in their XI.#AFGvNZ #CWC19

— Jitesh harwani (@jiteshharwani) June 8, 2019

Well done @ACBofficials for your innovations. Changing captain at very crucial time. Handing captaincy to @GbNaib someone who doesn't deserve to be in playing eleven. Selecting @aftabalam55786 as a fast bowler #AFGvNZ @rtaworld @rtapashto

— NaseerAhmad (@NaseerAhmad94) June 8, 2019