New Zealand vs Afghanistan, 40th Match, Super 12 Group 2 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021 Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Date & Time: Nov 07, 02:00 PM LOCAL

Afghanistan have two wins so far in the competition. © AFP

NEW ZEALAND IN THE SEMIS!

That also means India is knocked out officially. An unbeaten 68-run stand from Conway and Williamson has done the job for New Zealand in the penultimate over. They were hardly troubled right through the game, and are likely to face England in the semifinal now, although Pakistan will have to beat Scotland later tonight to get their run-rate above New Zealand's and top the group.

have not made it to the knockouts of an ICC event since WT20 2012 in Sri Lanka. Last time they featured in a dead rubber after elimination was in WT20 2009 against SA.

Fakhar vs (6th ball) Rohit vs (4th ball) Munsey vs (5th ball) Erasmus vs (2nd ball) Gulbadin vs (6th ball)

351 42

Partnership for Afghanistan

Gulbadin and Najib have taken Afghanistan past fifty and put on a brisk stand for te 4th wickets. A mini fightback so far but Afghanistan far from out of danger still.

WICKET: Southee bags one now

It's Rahmanullah now who walks across and is caught plumb in front by a full one from Southee. New Zealand's pacers have been spot on right from the outset. Afghanistan's hopes fast fading, and so too India's.

WICKET: Boult gets Zazai

It's a soft dismissal to end Zazai's stay. He gets a leading edge to midwicket as Boult digs one in. Afghanistan in trouble at 12/2 in the 4th over.

WICKET: Shahzad departs

He struggled his way to a 11-ball 4 and departs trying to swat down a short ball from Milne. But he gets it on the bottom of the bat and presents a sharp chance to the keeper.

Toss: Afghanistan opt to bat; Mujeeb in

Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson(c), Devon Conway(w), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi(c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Build up

New Zealand are usually the second favourite team for a lot of Indian fans. But this afternoon, a billion people are going to wish for their downfall. Not sure if a contest featuring Afghanistan and New Zealand would ever receive so much hype in the future but here we are on what promises to be an important day in the race for the final semifinal spot. Pre-tournament favourites India would have never envisaged being in this position heading into the tournament. But two losses in their first two games has brought it down to this very moment. If Afghanistan win, they will hand India a lifeline - a massive one in fact. If New Zealand end up defying a million prayers, they will join Australia, England and Pakistan.

On paper, this might look like a straightforward win for the Kiwis. But games are not won on paper. T20s are definitely not won on paper and this Afghanistan side are more than capable of toppling New Zealand in these conditions. If Mujeeb regains fitness, then New Zealand will have a couple of tricky spinners to contend with in those middle overs. And not to disregard their batting unit as well that is building a reputation for being a six-hitting unit. If they manage to come out on top against New Zealand's own spin twins - Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi - then anything goes.

New Zealand will be in unfamiliar territory in terms of support but they will definitely back themselves to get the job done and progress to the final four. Amidst all this, Afghanistan also know that a victory by a huge margin will give them a chance to sneak into the semis. What an anticlimax that would be! No matter what the outcome is, the buzz is indeed real. Welcome to the live blog for what promises to be an intense, intriguing clash between two teams that have never faced each other in this format.