In a stark and brutal reality check for the Afghan cricket team, New Zealand delivered a crushing defeat to them on the cricketing stage of Chennai. This unexpected turn of events had a profound impact on the Afghan side, which had, in their previous game, managed to overcome the reigning champions, England, in a surprising upset.
However, their fortunes took a nosedive as Hashmatullah Shahidi's squad plummeted from their previously held 6th spot in the Points table to a disheartening 9th place.
The 16th match of the highly anticipated World Cup 2023 provided New Zealand with an opportunity to consolidate its position at the top of the table. They capitalized on this chance, continuing their victorious streak, amassing an impressive 8 points from four matches. Their net run rate soared to a remarkable +1.923, further solidifying their dominance in the tournament.
On the contrary, Afghanistan found themselves languishing at the 9th spot in the points table, with just one victory and a mere 2 points to their name after four challenging encounters.
The top four positions in the Points table are currently occupied by New Zealand, followed by India, South Africa, and Pakistan. India remained undefeated, boasting 6 points, while South Africa and Pakistan were neck and neck with 4 points apiece.
India, the unbeaten team, was scheduled to face Bangladesh in their upcoming encounter on October 19th in Pune.