- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR5.6 Slower one creates a drag on! Ferguson is pumped! 122ks legcutter on a fullish length outside off, drifts in and then goes with the angle. Gurbaz looks to push it through cover, got an inside edge that made a mess of the stumps, leg particularly 44/25.1 Ferguson strikes first ball with a poor delivery. Is there such a thing in T20s? Short and wide, 136ks, cut hard but straight to Phillips at point. He's standing just in front of the crease, so straighter, and closer than usual. Ball went off the bottom of the bat, replay shows 35/117.2 Six and out? Keeper takes it. Santner smiles a touch. That hung in the air for a while, Seifert walked down the side of the pitch, kept his eyes on it and took it around chest-height. This was also there to be hit. On a length outside off, Naib tried to go across the line. Low swipe, got a top edge 156/414.3 Short ball is ballooned to the keeper. Slower one at 125ks banged in just outside off. Atal wanted to pull but didn't go through with the shot. Top edge went a few feet behind the keeper, who took it easily 123/318.1 Taken at deep midwicket. That was as flat as hits get. Decent pull from Rasooli, from around rib-height, got it low to Phillips' right. NZ don't celebrate as they're slightly behind on over rate 164/519.6 Wide on a shortish length. Another slower one. Cut to deep cover's right. Throw on the bounce to the bowler, who whips off the bails and the smart replay shows Omarzai is short 182/6Extras9 (lb 3, w 6)TOTAL182/6 (20 Overs, RR: 9.1)Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Ibrahim Zadran, 5.1 ov), 2-44 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 5.6 ov), 3-123 (Sediqullah Atal, 14.3 ov), 4-156 (Gulbadin Naib, 17.2 ov), 5-164 (Darwish Rasooli, 18.1 ov), 6-182 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 19.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB MJ Henry 4 0 27 1 6.75 11 1 1 0 0 JA Duffy 3 0 30 1 10 8 2 2 2 0 LH Ferguson 4 0 40 2 10 6 2 2 1 0 JDS Neesham 3 0 33 0 11 3 3 1 1 0 MJ Santner 4 0 23 0 5.75 6 1 0 1 0 GD Phillips 1 0 12 0 12 0 0 1 1 0 R Ravindra 1 0 14 1 14 2 0 2 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR12.5 Six, six, four and out! Nabi goes much quicker this time, 100ks. Not that short, on leg stump. Seifert got back in the crease, crouched and swivelled for the pull. Couldn't get on top of it properly and top edged it to deep-backward square leg 124/41.3 Middle and leg in a mess, Mujeeb wheels away pumping the air and roaring. Allen almost smashed the turf after missing the pull. He went for the shot because of length, it was back of, but skidded through to rush him. Released from the front of the hand. Allen had cleared the front leg, so there was no second line of defence. 14/11.4 Jaffa, beats the defence and Rachin has a golden duck! Mujeeb does his Imrah Tahir impression by rushing into the outfield at suare leg, high fives galore. Was a seam-up length ball swinging in. Ravindra looked to punch it straight and was beaten completely. Top of middle hit 14/29.2 Rashid has the last laugh against Phillips, last roar too. A few of them before that. Change of ends for Rashid. That was a slot ball, very full and just outside off. Phillips showed all his stumps, cleared his front leg and looked to slap it through cover. Inside edged it back onto the stumps 88/315.4 Afghanistan get the opening, but is it too late? Hit Straight to cover. Chapman made a lot of room, looked to drive the full ball on leg stump. Couldn't loft it properly and found Rashid 155/5Extras5 (nb 2, w 3)TOTAL183/5 (17.5 Overs, RR: 10.26)Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Finn Allen, 1.3 ov), 2-14 (Rachin Ravindra, 1.4 ov), 3-88 (Glenn Phillips, 9.2 ov), 4-124 (Tim Seifert, 12.5 ov), 5-155 (Mark Chapman, 15.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 0 25 0 12.5 5 4 1 0 0 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4 0 31 2 7.75 11 4 1 0 0 Azmatullah Omarzai 3.5 0 40 1 10.43 7 5 1 2 1 Rashid Khan 4 0 36 1 9 5 3 1 0 0 Ziaur Rahman 3 0 33 0 11 4 2 1 1 1 Mohammad Nabi 1 0 18 1 18 2 1 2 0 0
Match Details
Toss
Afghanistan , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
11.00 start, First Session 11.00-12.30, Interval 12.30-12.50, Second Session 12.50-14.20
Match days
8 February 2026 (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
New Zealand 2, Afghanistan 0
Match Notes
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 44 runs, 2 wickets)
- Over 4.3: Review by New Zealand (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - AG Wharf, Batter - Ibrahim Zadran (Struck down)
- Afghanistan: 50 runs in 7.3 overs (45 balls), Extras 4
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 37 balls (Gulbadin Naib 25, Sediqullah Atal 24, Ex 3)
- Afghanistan: 100 runs in 12.4 overs (76 balls), Extras 6
- Drinks: Afghanistan - 115/2 in 14.0 overs (Gulbadin Naib 43, Sediqullah Atal 29)
- Gulbadin Naib: 50 off 29 balls (2 x 4, 3 x 6)
- Afghanistan: 150 runs in 16.6 overs (102 balls), Extras 8
- Innings Break: Afghanistan - 182/6 in 20.0 overs (Mohammad Nabi 10)
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 52 runs, 2 wickets)
- New Zealand: 50 runs in 5.5 overs (35 balls), Extras 2
- Drinks: New Zealand - 52/2 in 6.0 overs (TL Seifert 31, GD Phillips 18)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 31 balls (TL Seifert 20, GD Phillips 29, Ex 2)
- New Zealand: 100 runs in 10.4 overs (65 balls), Extras 4
- TL Seifert: 50 off 39 balls (6 x 4, 2 x 6)
- Drinks: New Zealand - 136/4 in 14.0 overs (MS Chapman 14, DJ Mitchell 10)
- New Zealand: 150 runs in 14.6 overs (91 balls), Extras 4
- Over 17.4: Review by New Zealand (Batting), Decision Challenged - NoBall, Umpire - L Rusere, Batter - DJ Mitchell (Struck down)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsUAE bat; New Zealand unchanged from previous game against Afghanistan
The pitch in use in Chennai is red-soil based, and is expected to offer decent pace and carry
Lockie Ferguson slows down to stay ahead of the game
The New Zealand fast bowler began his T20 World Cup with 2 for 40 against Afghanistan
Glenn Phillips' spin-hitting Scooby Doos Afghanistan
The New Zealand No. 4 just let loose on Sunday to take down Rashid and Mujeeb
Trott pleased with Naib at No. 3, defends non-selection of Noor
Afghanistan's head coach felt it was the execution of the fast bowlers, and not selection, that cost the team against New Zealand
Seifert and Phillips conquer Afghanistan spin to script convincing New Zealand win
Gulbadin Naib's half-century and Mujeeb Ur Rahman's double-strike had given Afghanistan hope but they fell well short in the end
Videos
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
| Super Eights, Group 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2.259 |
| IND | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.106 |
| WI | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.993 |
| ZIM | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3.415 |
| Super Eights, Group 2 | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| ENG | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1.096 |
| NZ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.39 |
| PAK | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -0.123 |
| SL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.95 |
| Group A | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| IND | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2.5 |
| PAK | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0.976 |
| USA | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.788 |
| NED | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.217 |
| NAM | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -3.108 |
| Group B | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| ZIM | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1.506 |
| SL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1.741 |
| AUS | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1.523 |
| IRE | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.15 |
| OMA | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -4.845 |
| Group C | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| WI | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1.874 |
| ENG | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0.201 |
| SCOT | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.184 |
| ITA | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.02 |
| NEP | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.349 |
| Group D | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1.943 |
| NZ | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1.227 |
| AFG | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.889 |
| UAE | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.364 |
| CAN | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -2.426 |






