Neesham, Ferguson shine as NZ bowl Afghanistan out for 172

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 New Zealand's James Neesham celebrates the wicket of Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

TAUNTON, England (Reuters) - Fine bowling by Jimmy Neesham and Lockie Ferguson helped New Zealand dismiss Afghanistan for 172 in their Cricket World Cup match at Taunton on Saturday.

Put in to bat by the Kiwis, Afghanistan got off to a brisk start with openers Hazratullah Zazai and Noor Ali Zadran adding 66 runs by the 11th over.

But Neesham and Ferguson grabbed four wickets for four runs to reduce Afghanistan to 70-4.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

They never recovered and lost wickets steadily before being bowled out for 172 with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Neesham was the pick of the New Zealand attack, grabbing five wickets for 31 runs while Ferguson picked up four wickets for 37 runs.

Hashmatullah Shahidi top-scored for Afghanistan with 59 runs off 99 deliveries.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 New Zealand's Ross Taylor in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

New Zealand won their opening two matches of the tournament while Afghanistan lost their first two games.

(Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee, editing by Ed Osmond)

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 Afghanistan's Aftab Alam celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Colin Munro Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 New Zealand's Tom Latham celebrates the wicket of Afghanistan's Aftab Alam Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Afghanistan v New Zealand - The County Ground, Taunton, Britain - June 8, 2019 New Zealand's Kane Williamson helps Afghanistan's Rashid Khan after he is bowled by New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge