Shot of the Day: NZ vs AFG ODI World Cup 2023, Tom Latham’s placement of Azmatullah Omarzai over deep mid wicket.

On October 18 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by 149 runs to continue their unbeaten streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. New Zealand batted first and amassed a respectable 288/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Following early wickets, Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips shone with the bat for the Kiwis, putting on a century stand for the fifth wicket to rescue their team.

Tom Latham hit 68 off 74 balls, slamming three fours and two sixes during his bat.

This was a true captain’s knock. His greatest shot of the innings came in Azmatullah Omarzai’s 47th over of bowling. Omarzai adjusted his length after being hit for a six on a full delivery on the opening ball of the over and dropped the ball a little short.

Latham, however, was ready for it as he retrieved it from outside off stump and smacked it with a horizontal bat over deep mid-wicket, sending the ball flying back into the bleachers. Sunil Gavaskar, a former Indian cricketer who is now a commentator, even praised the hit.

 

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Glenn Phillips, who played a wonderful innings of 71 off 80 balls with the aid of four fours and as many sixes, provided Latham with a lot of support. The pair put together a tremendous 144-run partnership off 153 balls for the fifth wicket.

The match was won by New Zealand by 149 runs.

Afghanistan’s innings failed to progress later in the second innings because the Kiwi bowlers forbade any batter from remaining for an extended period of time at the crease. Despite their best efforts, Rahmat Shah (36 off 62) and Azmatullah Omarzai (27 off 32) were unable to extend their innings. Afghanistan eventually lost the match by 149 runs after being bowled out for 139 in 34.4 overs. For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson (3/19, 7 overs) and Mitchell Santer (3/39, 7.4 overs) each claimed three wickets.