'Bottom Of The Class': Jonathan Trott Laments Afghanistan's Fielding Woes

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott admitted his team’s catching has hit rock bottom after they dropped five chances in their 149-run defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup on Wednesday.

New Zealand opener Will Young was dropped by Rahmat Shah off pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi before he had scored.

Other lapses included skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi letting off Rachin Ravindra on nought and opposing captain Tom Latham on 38.

The blunders also allowed New Zealand to eventually escape from a struggling 110-4 to 288-6 before Afghanistan folded for just 139 in 34.4 overs.

ICC World Cup: Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets

“If you look at the statistics, unfortunately the side is right at the bottom with regards to catching,” said Trott.

“So that needs to improve and we have worked hard on it.”

The defeat came just three days after Afghanistan shocked defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi.

They now have just one win from four matches in a major blow to their hopes of making the semi-finals.

Trott, a former England batsman who took over as Afghanistan coach in July last year, admitted his team allowed New Zealand to escape.

“Well, we dropped (Rachin) Ravindra on nought, we dropped Young on nought. So that sort of gives a little bit of momentum to the opposition.”

From 109-1, New Zealand lost Ravindra (32), Young (54) and Daryl Mitchell (one) for the addition of just one run but stand-in skipper Latham (68) and Glenn Phillips (71) added 144 for the fifth wicket.

“We would have been in an even better position had we held on to those catches but it wasn’t to be and unfortunately, we have to go home regretting those tonight.”

READ: Mitchell Santner Eyeing Daniel Vettori’s ‘Tough’ New Zealand Spin Bowling Record

Trott also admitted his team batted poorly.

“Well, I certainly didn’t feel it was a 130-odd all-out pitch,” said Trott, whose team lost dangerman Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just 11 in the sixth over.

Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson took 3-19 while spinner Mitchell Santner grabbed 3-39 to take his career ODI haul past 100 wickets.

“The seamers actually did all the damage,” said Trott.

“We were 28 for 2 at the end of the first power play, which when you’re chasing 280 is probably going to put a lot of pressure on the players down the order.”

Trott also defended bowling first after winning the toss.

“I think if we look at bowling first, I think sometimes we expect our spinners to rip through the opposition but an unresponsive pitch creates pressure,” he said.

Frontline spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman only managed a wicket each.

Afghanistan next face Pakistan, also in Chennai, on October 23.