Afghan head coach Jonathan Trott was furious following his team’s disastrous World Cup performance, blaming poor fielding for the team’s downfall. Afghanistan lost by 149 runs against New Zealand. During the Chepauk showdown, the Afghan fielders put down a staggering five catches, granting a significant advantage to Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, who capitalized on the reprieves, crafting a formidable 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

At a press conference following the game, Trott expressed his dissatisfaction by stating,

“I would say that’s not the pressure.” In my opinion, it has also been occurring far too frequently since I took over.”

Trott further explained,

“When you consider the statistics, it is unfortunate that our team ranks at the bottom in terms of catching. So, that needs to improve. I believe we’ve put a lot of effort into it throughout training. Now we simply need to execute it during the actual games.”

Nonetheless, Trott acknowledged the Black Caps’ resilience in the face of adversity. He commended Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips for their impressive performance:

“I think they (Latham and Phillips) played well. But credit must have gone the way they held the innings together because it could have got a lot worse for them. They stabilized the situation and managed to reach a total that could be defended.”

Referring to Rashid Khan’s role in the power play, Trott explained:

“Well, we were just waiting until the state of the ball…when Rashid feels like he can grip it because he obviously needs to spin it both ways and when the ball is not as new and not as slippery.”

Trott expressed his satisfaction with the overall bowling performance.

“Our bowling effort, in my opinion, was excellent since we successfully restrained and restricted their scoring possibilities. However, the game took a different turn when Azmat entered the scene and took two wickets in a single over, altering the course of the game. And then, Rash (Rashid) got a wicket for himself.”

Trott emphasized that despite the wicket playing slowly, it wasn’t a low-scoring pitch.

Challenging Conditions

“”I personally didn’t perceive it as a pitch where the total score would be around 130 runs and all the batsmen would be dismissed. Yes, it did spin a little bit more towards the end. I still feel like we were taking the spinners for nearly five, six and over.”

Pressure in the First Power Play

“The New Zealand seamers were the ones who caused all the trouble for us. By the end of the first power play, we were 28 for 2. When you’re chasing a target of 280, this puts a significant amount of pressure on lower-order players,” he concluded.

The Netherlands have entered the World Cup with more than just participation in mind. They aspire to make it to the 2023 World Cup semi-finals and are driven by a passionate desire to defeat the best in cricket.

Their recent clash with South Africa at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium showcased their unwavering commitment as they triumphed by 38 runs on a pitch seemingly tailored to favour South African pacers. Despite the reduced match duration of 43 overs per side, this performance underscores that the Dutch are no fleeting phenomenon.

Captain Scott Edwards encapsulates a winning philosophy, emphasizing the importance of meticulous planning and unwavering belief in their ability to conquer any opposition. The Dutch’s challenging journey to World Cup qualification, as the sole associate member, signifies their mettle. They earned their place by outperforming established teams like Ireland, Zimbabwe, and West Indies in the qualifiers.

Even when faced with a dire situation at 140 for seven, Edwards orchestrated a remarkable recovery, amassing an unbeaten 78 off 69 balls, propelling his team to a competitive 245 for eight. Their tenacity extended to dismissing South Africa for 207 in 42.5 overs. It’s this resilience and collective spirit that differentiates them on their quest for World Cup glory.