Chennai : New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by 5 wickets at Chennai with help of Tim Seifert’s 65(42) in ICC T20 WC 2026 Group D encounter.
A half-century from Gulbadin Naib helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 182/6 against New Zealand.
Naib smashed 63 from just 35 deliveries to help the Asian side to their score, after Black Caps pacer Lockie Ferguson had ripped through the Afghanistan top-order.
Ferguson removed Ibrahim Zadran (10) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) from his very first over as New Zealand reduced their opponents to 44/2, before Naib’s rally allowed Afghanistan to a decent total at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Naib put on 79 for the third wicket alongside Sediqullah Atal (29), with the pair falling in quick succession to Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra though Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi landed some lofty late blows to keep the momentum going.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around the New Zealand top order going through the defences of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra to have New Zealand reeling at 14/2 at the end of 2 overs.
Seifert counter-attacked brilliantly after the two early blows to keep New Zealand in check with respect to the required run rate. Seifert’s knock allowed in-form batter Glenn Phillips to get his eye in.
Rashid Khan got the huge wicket of Glenn Phillips who was looking so dangerous and in the process broke a 74-run stand between Seifert and Phillips that threatened to take the game away from them. Phillips goes for a well-made 42 off just 25 deliveries.
The New Zealand opener smashed Mohammad Nabi for back-to-back sixes and in process brought up his half-century. Seifert had been unaffected by the three wickets he has seen fall at the other end as he has continued to put the pressure back on Afghanistan.l
Two sixes and one boundary later, Nabi got his man as he dismissed the dangerous Tim Seifert who departed having scored a brilliant knock of 65 off just 42 deliveries. He innings put New Zealand in command in Chennai.
Afghanistan tightened the screws with the wicket of Mark Chapman, piling on the pressure. However, Daryl Mitchell (25* off 13) and skipper Mitchell Santner (17* off 18) produced late bursts to calmly guide New Zealand home with 2.1 overs to spare.
