Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips powered New Zealand to a convincing five-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Sunday, helping the Black Caps successfully navigate a high-stakes "group of death" opener at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Chasing a formidable 183 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, New Zealand overcame a disastrous start to finish the game with 13 balls to spare. The win marks New Zealand’s highest successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history.
Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman nearly derailed the chase in the second over, dismissing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra on consecutive deliveries. Reduced to 14 for 2, New Zealand faced a daunting climb against a world-class spin attack.
However, Seifert (65 off 42) and Phillips (42 off 25) refused to play defensively. The duo counter-attacked aggressively, specifically targeting Rashid Khan in his opening over to shift the momentum. Seifert’s composed half-century anchored the innings, while Phillips provided the explosive power needed to stay ahead of the required rate.
Earlier, Gulbadin Naib propelled Afghanistan to a competitive 182 for 6 after opting to bat. Naib’s career-best 63 off 35 balls—featuring four sixes—capitalized on the middle overs after Lockie Ferguson had dismantled the Afghan top order.
Ferguson, showing no signs of rust, clocked speeds over 140kph and claimed two wickets in his opening over. Despite his efforts, cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai pushed Afghanistan to a total that initially looked above par on a gripping Chepauk surface.
Though Seifert and Phillips both fell before the finish line, captain Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell remained calm. Mitchell’s unbeaten 25 and Santner’s late boundaries ensured a comfortable finish, allowing New Zealand to avenge their 2024 World Cup loss to the same opponents.
