ICC World Cup 2019, Afghanistan vs New Zealand: As it happened

Kane Williamson-led New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the 13th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton on Saturday. 

Here are the highlights from the twelfth match of the tournament between Afghanistan and New Zealand:

# New Zealand beat Afghanistan by seven wickets!

# Kane Williamson takes a single off the first delivery of the over, as New Zealand chase down the target of 173 runs in 32.1 overs!  

# Aftab Alam to bowl his ninth over! 

# Four runs from the over, New Zealand 172/3 (32 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to bowl his seventh over! 

# Six runs from the over, New Zealand 168/3 (31 overs)

# Aftab Alam to bowl his 8th over!  

# Seven runs from the over, as Kane Williamson scores his 20,000th delivery in International Cricket, scoring a boundary past mid-wicket. New Zealand 162/3 (30 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to bowl his sixth over! 

# New Zealand 155/3 (29 overs), with 12 runs off the over as Kane Williamson scores two consecutive boundaries past cover and through extra cover. 

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his ninth over! 

# Two runs off the over, New Zealand 143/3 (28 overs)

# Aftab Ali to bowl his seventh over! 

# Seven runs off the over, New Zealand 141/3 (27 overs) 

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his eighth over! 

# Boundary off the final delivery making it 10 runs and a wicket off the over, New Zealand 134/3 (26 overs)

# Tom Latham is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Ross Taylor dismissed for 48 runs off 52 deliveries off a slower delivery which the batsman misses, as New Zealand lose their third wicket. New Zealand 130/3 (25.4 overs)

# Aftab Alam to bowl his sixth over! 

# 11 runs off the over as Kane Williamson completes his half-century off 77 deliveries. Taylor smashed a six off the first delivery, to register his first six of the innings. New Zealand 124/2 (25 overs)

# Muhammad Nabi is back in the attack! 

# Six runs off the over as Kane Williamson gets close to his half-century with a boundary to deep square leg. New Zealand 113/2 (24 overs)

# Rahmat Shah to bowl his fourth over! 

# Six runs off the over as Taylor scores his fifth boundary of the innings following a top-edge off a back of length delivery, New Zealand 107/2 (23 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his sixth over! 

# Four runs off the over as New Zealand cross the 100-run mark, with New Zealand 101/2 (22 overs)

# Rahmat Shah to bowl his fourth over! 

# Eight runs off the over as Kane Williamson scores his fifth boundary of the innings off the first delivery which was a no-ball delivery, with New Zealand 97/2 (21 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his sixth over! 

# Just a single off the over, New Zealand 89/2 (20 overs)

# Rahmat Shah to bowl his third over! 

# Seven runs from the over as Kane Williamson hits the ball to the mid-wicket region for a boundary, as New Zealand reach 88/2 (19 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his fifth over! 

# Six runs from the over, as Ross Taylor hits his fourth boundary of the innings to sweeper cover. New Zealand 81/2 (18 overs) 

# Rahmat Shah to bowl his second over! 

# Just four runs off the over, New Zealand 75/2 (17 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to bowl his fifth over! 

# Four runs off the over following a boundary off the first delivery after an outside edge from Taylor's bat. New Zealand 71/2 (16 overs)

# Rahmat Shah into the attack! 

# Three runs off the over following a single off the first delivery which is followed by a double off the fourth delivery, New Zealand 67/2 (15 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to bowl his fourth over! 

# Three runs from the over following three singles off the over including a quick single off the final delivery, New Zealand 64/2 (14 overs)

# Nabi to continue with the ball! 

# Five runs from the over, as Ross Taylor scores his second boundary of the innings, hitting the ball to third man. New Zealand 61/2 (13 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his fourth over! 

# Four runs from the over following three singles and a wide delivery off the over, New Zealand 56/2 (12 overs)

# Muhammad Nabi into the attack! 

# Maiden over by Gulbadin Naib, New Zealand 52/2 (11 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his third over! 

# Six runs off the over as Ross Taylor scores his first boundary of the New Zealand innings through square leg following a bouncer. New Zealand 52/2 (10 overs)

# Aftab Alam to bowl his fifth over! 

# Five runs from the over as Kane Williamson scores his second boundary of the innings through point, New Zealand 46/2 (9 overs)

# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his second over! 

# Two runs and the wicket of Colin Munro, New Zealand 41/2 (8 overs)

# Ross Taylor is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Colin Munro dismissed for 22 runs off 24 deliveries as he attempts to go for a shot off a short delivery, resulting in an edge to Hamid Alam, New Zealand 41/2 (7.5 overs) 

# Aftab Alam to bowl his fourth over! 

# Five runs from the over as Kane Williamson scores a boundary off the final delivery of the over to sweeper cover, New Zealand 39/1 (7 overs) 

# Skipper Gulbadin Naib into the attack! 

# Six runs from the over as Kane Williamson scores his first boundary of the innings following a thick inside edge which flies over the bails. New Zealand 34/1 (6 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to continue with the ball! 

# Just two runs off the over, New Zealand 28/1 (5 overs)

# Aftab Alam to bowl his third over! 

# Six runs from the over as Colin Munro continues to score boundaries with a fourth boundary of the over through mid-off. New Zealand 26/1 (4 overs)

# Hassan to bowl his second over! 

# Six runs from the over as Colin Munro scores his third boundary of the innings following a punch through mid-off. New Zealand 20/1 (3 overs)

# Aftab Alam to continue with the ball! 

# Three runs from the over, New Zealand 14/1 (2 overs)

# Hamid Hassan to share the new ball with Aftab Alam! 

# 11 runs from the first over as well as a wicket after Colin Munro smashed two consecutive boundaries to sweeper cover and to long-off! New Zealand 11/1 (1 over)

# Kane Williamson is the next man in! 

# Wicket! Martin Guptill dismissed for a duck as he edges a short ball from Alam to Najibullah Zadran. New Zealand 0/1 (0.1 overs)

# Aftab Alam to bowl the opening over! 

# Afghanistan openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro are set to kick start the chase! 

# New Zealand need 173 runs to win! 

# Wicket! Hashmatullah Shahidi dismissed for 59 runs off 99 deliveries following a catch at third man by Matt Henry following an outside edge. Afghanistan 172/10 (41.1 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to bowl his final over! 

# Just a single off the over, Afghanistan 172/9 (41 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his final over! 

# Three runs off the over, Afghanistan 171/9 (40 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to bowl his fourth over! 

# Five runs off the over as Shahidi continues to score boundaries with a powerful hit through mid-wicket. Afghanistan 168/9 (39 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his ninth over! 

# Five runs off the over as Hashmatullah Shahidi completes his half-century with a boundary towards long-on. Afghanistan 163/9 (38 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to continue with the ball! 

# Five runs from the over as Shahidi scores his eighth boundary of the innings following a top-edge off the second delivery, Afghanistan 158/9 (37 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his eighth over! 

# 14 runs from the over as Aftab Alam scores two consecutive boundaries followed by a boundary by Hamid Hassan off his first delivery. Afghanistan 153/9 (36 overs)

# Hamid Hassan is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Aftab Alam departs for 14 runs off 10 deliveries as he attempts to go for a big hit off a bouncer, resulting in a catch to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Afghanistan 147/9 (35.4 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to continue with the ball! 

# Four runs off the over, Afghanistan 139/8 (35 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his sixth over! 

# Five runs and a wicket off the over, Afghanistan 135/8 (34 overs)

# Aftab Alam is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Rashid Khan dismissed for 0 off four deliveries following a short delivery which hits the grill of the helmet before going on to dislodge the stumps. Afghanistan 131/8 (33.4 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to bowl his sixth over! 

# Wicket maiden for Grandhomme, with Afghanistan 130/7 (33 overs)

# Rashid Khan is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Ikram Alikhil dismissed for 2 runs off 22 deliveries as he hands a catch to Martin Guptill following a misplaced square drive. Afghanistan 130/7 (32.4 overs) 

# Colin de Grandhomme to bowl his fourth over! 

# Just a single off the over, Afghanistan 130/6 (32 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson into the attack! 

# Just two runs off the over as Ross Taylor drops a catch at slips off the final delivery. Afghanistan 129/6 (31 overs)

# Henry to continue with the ball! 

# Just a single off Neesham's final over, Afghanistan 127/6 (30 overs)

# Neesham to bowl his final over! 

# Hashmatullah Shahidi scores his sixth boundary of the innings following a thick inside edge which goes to the fine leg boundary. Five runs from the over, Afghanistan 126/6 (29 overs)

# Matt Henry to bowl his sixth over! 

# Just a single off the over, Afghanistan 121/6 (28 overs)

# Neesham to continue with the ball! 

# Hashmatullah continues to attack the New Zealand bowling attack with a boundary to the deep extra cover fence. Five runs off the over, Afghanistan 120/6 (27 overs)

# Matt Henry back into the attack! 

# Single off the final delivery of the over, Afghanistan 115/6 (26 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham to bowl his eighth over! 

# Five runs off the over following a boundary off the first delivery as Shahidi flicks the ball to deep backward square leg. Afghanistan 114/6 (25 overs) 

# Trent Boult to bowl his sixth over! 

# Ikram Alikhil is the new batsman in! 

# Wicket! Najibullah departs for 4 runs off 3 deliveries as he edges a fast bouncer by Neesham to wicketkeeper Tom Latham, following a boundary off the previous delivery. Afghanistan 109/6 (23.6 overs)

# Najibullah Zadran is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Muhammad Nabi departs for 9 runs off 24 deliveries as the batsman edges the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Afghanistan 105/5 (23.3 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham to bowl his seventh over! 

# Just a single off the over as Afghanistan cross the 100-run mark. Afghanistan 100/4 (23 overs)

# The clash is set to resume with no overs lost! 

# Rain has again stopped play with the covers being brought on! 

# Trent Boult to bowl his fifth over! 

# Nine runs off the over as Hashmatullah Shahidi hits his second boundary of the innings to the leg-side off a slow delivery, Afghanistan 99/4 (22 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham to bowl his sixth over! 

# Six runs off the over following a boundary by Hashmatullah Shahidi off the first delivery. Afghanistan 90/4 (21 overs)

# The clash is set to resume with Colin de Grandhomme bowling his third over! 

# The clash has been stopped for the moment following rain with covers being brought on!  

# Four runs off the over, as Afghanistan reach 84/4 (20 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham to bowl his fifth over! 

# Seven runs off the over as Hasmatullah Shahidi scores his first boundary of the innings with a shot towards backward point. Afghanistan 79/4 (19 overs) 

# Colin de Grandhomme to bowl his second over! 

# Maiden by Neesham, with Afghanistan 72/4 (18 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham to bowl his fourth over! 

# Single off the over, Afghanistan 72/4 (17 overs)

# Colin de Grandhomme into the attack! 

# Lockie Ferguson continues with the ball and bowls a maiden over as Afghanistan reach 71/4 (16 overs)

# 1 run and a wicket off the over, Afghanistan 71/4 (15 overs)

# Muhammad Nabi is the new batsman in! 

# Wicket! Gulbadin Naib dismissed for 4 runs off 4 deliveries as he edges the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Afghanistan 70/4 (14.1 overs)

# Neesham to bowl his third over! 

# Maiden over from Ferguson, Afghanistan 70/3 (14 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to bowl his third over! 

# Four runs and a wicket off the over as Naib gets off the mark with a boundary over the umpire's head. Afghanistan 70/3 (13 overs)

# Skipper Gulbadin Naib is the next man in! 

# Wicket! Rahmat Shah dismissed for a duck as he attempts to flick the short of length delivery down the leg side, but fails to connect resulting in a catch to Martin Guptill at backward point. Afghanistan 66/3 (12.3 overs)

# Neesham to continue with the ball! 

# Wicket maiden for Ferguson, Afghanistan 66/2 (12 overs)

# Hasmatullah Shahidi is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Noor Ali dismissed for 31 runs off 38 deliveries as he edges the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Afghanistan 66/2 (11.1 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson to continue with the ball! 

# Five runs and a wicket off the over, Afghanistan 66/1 (11 overs)

# Rahmat Shah is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! Hazratullah Zazai departs for 34 runs off 28 deliveries as he hands a catch to Colin Munro following a boundary by Noor Ali. Afghanistan 66/1 (10.5 overs)

# Jimmy Neesham into the attack! 

# 10 runs from the over as Hazratullah Zazai and Noor Ali score a boundary apiece, with Afghanistan finishing the over on 61/0 (10 overs)

# Lockie Ferguson into the attack! 

# 12 runs from the over, as Hazratullah Zazai smashes a six and a boundary to deep square leg and over cover to help Afghanistan reach 51/0 (9 overs)

# Matt Henry to bowl his fifth over! 

# Just two runs off the over, Afghanistan 39/0 (8 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his fourth over! 

# Four runs from the over with Noor Ali scoring his third consecutive boundary in three overs, Afghanistan 37/0 (7 overs)

# Matt Henry to continue with the ball! 

# Six runs from the over, as Noor Ali scores his second boundary of the innings past Williamson at mid-off. Afghanistan 33/0 (6 overs)

# Trent Boult to bowl his third over! 

# Eight runs from the over, as Noor Ali scores his first boundary of the innings to help Afghanistan finish the over on 27/0 (5 overs)

# Henry to bowl his third over of the innings! 

# 1 run from the over, Afghanistan 19/0 (4 overs)

# Trent Boult to continue with the ball! 

# Two runs off the over, Afghanistan 18/0 (3 overs)

# Matt Henry to continue with the ball! 

# Four runs off the over as Noor Ali gets off the mark with a single. Afghanistan 16/0 (2 overs) 

# Trent Boult to share the new ball! 

# 12 runs from the opening over as Hazratullah Zazai scores a hat-trick of boundaries with the rest of the deliveries dot balls. Afghanistan 12/0 (1 over) 

# Matt Henry to bowl the opening over! 

# Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Noor Ali Zadran are set to kick off the innings! 

# The clash is set to commence in a few minutes with both the teams on the field for the national anthem ceremony!

# New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has won the toss and opted to field against Afghanistan! 

New Zealand have been in good form recently with an excellent performance against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their first two clashes of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Veteran Ross Taylor was the man of the match in their clash against Bangladesh scoring a 91-ball 82 at Kennington Oval, London.

New Zealand emerged victorious by a margin of two wickets after being handed a target of 245 runs to chase.  

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have struggled in recent times with defeats against Australia and Sri Lanka.

However, they have made their presence felt with a strong fight under pressure. Afghanistan will be looking to register their first win in the tournament with a victory over New Zealand who are placed on top of the points table.  

Lineups: 

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib(c), Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Alikhil(w), Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan