CHENNAI: New Zealand maintained their winning run in the World Cup with a thumping 149-run win over Afghanistan on Wednesday.
The Black Caps slipped from 109-1 to 110-4 but were revived by a stand of 144 between Glenn Phillips, who made 71, and captain Tom Latham’s 68.
Both were dismissed by Naveen-ul-Haq in the 48th over before Mark Chapman’s 12-ball 25 propelled New Zealand to 288-9.
The bowlers then completed a clinical performance as Afghanistan were all out for 139 in reply.
Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai recovered with a stand of 54, but as the run-rate spiralled the middle order eventually buckled under the pressure and lost their last seven wickets for 42 runs.
Santner added 3-39 to his fielding efforts while Lockie Ferguson troubled Afghanistan with his pace to take 3-19.
