New Zealand have qualified for the semifinals of the ongoing T20 World Cup after thrashing Afghanistan by 8 wickets in their last match of the group stage.
Bowling first, Kiwis restricted Afghanistan to 125/8 in 20 overs with superb bowling performances by Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Boult picked three wickets while Southee got two wickets. Najibullah Zadran was the top-score for Afghanistan as he got back to the pavilion with his 73-run knock.
The victory took the New Zealand to eight points that confirmed their spot top two of Group 2 table, along with Pakistan, as the two teams join England and Australia from Group 1 in the semi-finals.
This is the third time that New Zealand have made it to the semi-finals in T20 World Cups following 2007 and 2016.
India along with Afghanistan are knocked out of the tournament.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 124/8 in 20 overs (Najibullah Zadran 73; Trent Boult 3-17, Tim Southee 2-24) against New Zealand 125/2 in 18.1 overs (Kane Williamson 40 not out, Devon Conway 36 not out; Rashid Khan 1/27)
