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
08/02Result
4th Match, Group D, ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Chennai, Feb 8 2026
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![Afghanistan]( "Afghanistan")
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![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
183/5 (17.5/20 ov)
Player of the Match
08/02Result
4th Match, Group D, ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Chennai, Feb 8 2026
-
![Afghanistan]( "Afghanistan")
-
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
183/5 (17.5/20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Day
UAE 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
Afghanistan pack their XI with spinners, ask New Zealand to field
Mitchell Santner is the only frontline spinner in the New Zealand XI, with part-timer Rachin Ravindra the other spin option
Tim Seifert's improvement comes at the right time for New Zealand
A batter who seemed to lean a little too much on the funky shots comes to the T20 World Cup as a much more rounded threat
Rashid: Playing international cricket in Afghanistan 'more than a dream'
"That's bigger than the World Cup, to be honest," says the Afghanistan captain
'Never counted my wickets' - Rashid on nearing 700 mark in T20 cricket
"I'm happy to reach that milestone and hopefully can make it to 7000," the legspinner joked
Preview
Injury-hit New Zealand eye revenge as Afghanistan look to run it back
Afghanistan hammered New Zealand in the 2024 edition, and conditions make them favourites with a strong spin attack
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 |