The 16th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will see New Zealand square off against Afghanistan in what is expected to be a very competitive affair.
Afghanistan might lack the experience at the elite level, but they aren't short of ammunition in spin-friendly conditions, which is exactly what they are likely to get at the Chepauk on October 18.
On this note, here's a look at New Zealand vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head record in ODIs & at the ICC Cricket World Cup:
New Zealand vs Afghanistan Head to Head Record (ODI World Cups)
New Zealand and Afghanistan have locked horns with each other on just a couple of occasions in their ODI history, and co-incidentally, both of those meetings have taken place at the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Their maiden face-off took place at McLean Park in Napier in March 2015, where the Brendon McCullum-led BlackCaps romped home to a comfortable 6-wicket affair thanks to brilliant bowling spells from Dan Vettori (4/18 in 10) and Trent Boult (3/34 in 10).
The 2019 encounter also proved to be a one-sided affair as New Zealand rode on a five-wicket-haul from James Neesham to dismiss the Afghans for 172, which was easily gunned by a Kane Williamson-inspired batting-unit.
| Matches Played | 2 |
| NZ Won | 2 |
| AFGH Won | 0 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| %NZ | 100% |
| %AFGH | 0% |
| First Played | 08 Mar 2015 |
| Last Played | 08 June 2019 |
Top Run Scorers in New Zealand vs Afghanistan - ODI World Cup
| Team | Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Avg | S/R | 50/100 | HS |
| NZ | Kane Williamson | 2 | 2 | 112 | 112.00 | 77.77 | 1/0 | 79* |
| AFGH | Najibullah Zadran | 2 | 2 | 60 | 30.00 | 101.69 | 1/0 | 56 |
Top Wicket Takers in New Zealand vs Afghanistan - ODI World Cup
| Team | Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Avg | E/R | 4/5 |
| NZ | James Neesham | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6.20 | 3.10 | 0/1 |
| AFGH | Aftab Alam | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15.00 | 5.51 | 0/0 |
