A confident batting display led by Tim Seifert powered New Zealand to a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the 4th match of Group D at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing a competitive target of 183, the Black Caps reached the finish line with 13 balls to spare, underlining their depth and adaptability on a Chennai surface that offered runs for the brave.
Afghanistan build a strong platform with the bat
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Afghanistan started steadily before finding momentum in the middle overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz set the tone with a brisk 27 off 22 balls, while Sediqullah Atal played a composed hand to keep the innings on track. The innings truly lifted when Gulbadin Naib took charge, producing a powerful 63 off just 35 deliveries, laced with four sixes that punctured New Zealand’s bowling plans.
Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai added valuable late impetus, ensuring Afghanistan crossed the 180 mark. For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson’s pace fetched two key wickets, while Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy chipped in with one apiece. Despite a tidy spell from Mitchell Santner, Afghanistan finished strongly at 182/6, a total that promised a tense chase.
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Tim Seifert steadies the chase for New Zealand
New Zealand’s reply began shakily with Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra dismissed cheaply, handing Afghanistan early belief. However, Seifert absorbed the pressure calmly, rebuilding the innings with assurance. His fluent strokeplay against both pace and spin kept the scoreboard ticking, even as Afghanistan tried to tighten the screws through Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan.
Seifert found an ideal partner in Glenn Phillips, whose aggressive 42 off 25 balls shifted the momentum decisively. The pair neutralised the spin threat with smart shot selection, ensuring the asking rate never spiralled out of control.
After Seifert’s departure for a match-defining 65, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell maintained the chase with composed cameos. Santner then added the finishing touches with a quick 17, guiding New Zealand to 183/5 in just 17.5 overs. Afghanistan’s bowlers fought hard, with Mujeeb claiming two wickets, but lacked the breakthroughs needed once the chase settled.
Tim Seifert earned Player of the Match 🔥#TimSeifert #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/Roqg304Prz
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 8, 2026
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