Afghans, Kiwis get a point each as match rained off

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and New Zealand won a point each as rain washed out their Super12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

It was the second Super12 encounter that had to be abandoned due to rain, ICC said, referring to the South Africa-Zimbabwe match on Monday. That tie was also rained off.

Afghanistan, thrashed by England in their opening match, was looking for a better result in this ninth Super 12 match.

As the Kiwis top the points table among Group 1 teams, Afghanistan have the fourth spot -- losing to England in Perth on Saturday.

On the other hand, New Zealand pullet off a morale-booster against hosts Australia in Australia for the first time since 2009.

The game against Afghanistan, one cricket website reported, was an opportunity for New Zealand to cruise into the next round.

Cricbuzz quoted Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi as saying the MCG pitch had become a little bit slower, less help for spinners.

He believed the ball would not swing that much on the track. “Here the pitch is new and a little bit green, as well, and also the weather is cold. It takes four or five overs, the ball swinging."

His Kiwi counterpart Trent Boult said there was some pace and bounce in the surface. These conditions were always exciting for bowlers, he added.

In their only T20 World Cup match in 2021, New Zealand had trounced Afghanistan by eight wickets.

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