New Zealand made a statement in their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, overcoming an early spin-induced collapse to defeat Afghanistan by 5 wickets with 13 balls to spare. Despite a brilliant start from Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a clinical 65 from Tim Seifert and a composed finish by captain Mitchell Santner ensured the Kiwis chased down a challenging 183 with ease.
New Zealand’s pursuit began in nightmare fashion. After Tim Seifert crunched three boundaries in the opening over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman produced a double-strike in the second, clean bowling both Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in consecutive deliveries.
Glenn Phillips (42 off 25) joined Seifert to stabilize the innings, punishing Rashid Khan for 15 runs in his opening over.
Rashid Khan, usually the master of control, dropped a regulation return catch when Seifert was in full flow. Seifert capitalized, reaching his fifty in 42 balls with back-to-back sixes off Mohammad Nabi.
After a brief wobble where Phillips and Seifert fell in quick succession, Mark Chapman (28) and Mitchell Santner lowered the equation. Santner ended the game in style, smashing a 4 and a 6 off the 17th over before punching the winning run to long-on
Earlier, Afghanistan posted a formidable 182/6, largely thanks to a bruising 63 off 35 balls from Gulbadin Naib.
Lockie Ferguson dismantled the top order in the 6th over, dismissing both Ibrahim Zadran and the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz to leave Afghanistan at 44/2.
Naib and Sediqullah Atal (29) rebuilt the innings with an 86-run stand. Naib was particularly destructive against James Neesham, but his dismissal by Rachin Ravindra in the 18th over prevented a 200-plus total.
