Chennai:
The New zealand vs afghanistan highlights from the T20 World Cup 2026 opener delivered a thrilling contest at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, where New Zealand produced their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history to defeat Afghanistan by five wickets. Powered by a blistering half-century from Tim Seifert and backed by disciplined bowling from Lockie Ferguson, the Black Caps made a commanding start to their World Cup campaign.
Afghanistan, after opting to bat first, posted a competitive 182 for 6 on a spin-friendly Chepauk surface. However, New Zealand’s aggressive batting approach ensured that the target of 183 was chased down in just 17.5 overs, marking a statement win in the early stages of the tournament.
Match Overview: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup 2026
| Match | New Zealand vs Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Result | New Zealand won by 5 wickets |
| Afghanistan Score | 182/6 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand Score | 183/5 (17.5 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Tim Seifert |
This victory surpassed New Zealand’s previous best T20 World Cup run chase of 167 against England in 2021, making it a historic night for the Kiwis.
Afghanistan Set the Tone with a Strong Batting Display
Winning the toss, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan chose to bat first, backing his batters to exploit the early conditions before the pitch slowed down. The decision paid dividends initially as Afghanistan built a solid foundation despite losing wickets at intervals.
Key Afghanistan Batting Performances
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Gulbadin Naib | 63 | 34 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 29 | 22 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 27 | 20 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 20 | 16 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 14 | 7 |
The innings was anchored by Gulbadin Naib, who played a commanding knock of 63 runs, registering his fourth T20I half-century. His partnership with Sediqullah Atal, worth 79 runs, steadied Afghanistan after early losses.
Lockie Ferguson Turns the Game in the Powerplay
New Zealand’s bowling was led by express pacer Lockie Ferguson, who changed the momentum dramatically during the powerplay.
New Zealand Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 28 | 2 |
| Matt Henry | 4 | 31 | 1 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 3 | 22 | 1 |
| Jacob Duffy | 3 | 26 | 1 |
Ferguson struck twice in the sixth over, dismissing Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, effectively halting Afghanistan’s early acceleration. His pace, bounce, and variations proved difficult to handle on a surface offering grip and uneven bounce.
Afghanistan Finish Strong to Reach 182
Despite losing wickets, Afghanistan ensured a competitive total thanks to late hitting from Mohammad Nabi and calculated aggression from the middle order. However, a sharp piece of fielding on the final ball resulted in a run-out, restricting Afghanistan to 182/6 instead of pushing beyond 190.
At Chepauk, where spinners usually dominate, the total was considered above-par but not unchaseable—especially given the evening dew.
New Zealand’s Chase Gets Off to a Shaky Start
The New Zealand innings began on a nervous note. Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck twice in his very first over, dismissing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra, putting the Kiwis under early pressure.
| Powerplay Wickets | Bowler |
|---|---|
| Finn Allen | Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Rachin Ravindra | Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
Afghanistan sensed an opportunity, but New Zealand responded with intent rather than caution.
Tim Seifert Leads the Counterattack
The turning point in the New zealand vs afghanistan highlights came through Tim Seifert, who launched a fearless counterattack. Batting with freedom, Seifert dismantled Afghanistan’s spin attack and kept the run rate comfortably above the required mark.
Tim Seifert’s Match-Winning Knock
| Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 42 | 7 | 3 |
Seifert reached his half-century in style, smashing consecutive sixes before eventually falling to Mohammad Nabi, caught brilliantly by Azmatullah Omarzai at long-off.
Phillips and Chapman Keep the Momentum Alive
After Seifert’s dismissal, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman ensured New Zealand did not lose control of the chase.
Phillips played a typically aggressive innings, striking 42 off 25 balls, while Chapman contributed 28 runs before holing out to Rashid Khan in the deep.
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips | 42 |
| Mark Chapman | 28 |
Phillips was eventually bowled by Rashid Khan, who briefly threatened a comeback with his guile and accuracy.
Rashid Khan Shows His Class but Lacks Support
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan delivered a moment of magic when he clean-bowled Glenn Phillips with a sharply turning delivery. However, the lack of sustained pressure from the other end meant New Zealand continued to score freely.
Despite Rashid’s experience and leadership, Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs once the dew set in.
Daryl Mitchell Seals the Historic Chase
With calm assurance, Daryl Mitchell finished the game unbeaten, guiding New Zealand home with maturity and composure.
| Player | Runs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Daryl Mitchell | 25 | Not Out |
New Zealand reached the target with 13 balls to spare, completing their highest-ever successful chase in T20 World Cup history.
Full Playing XIs
New Zealand XI
| Players |
|---|
| Finn Allen |
| Tim Seifert |
| Rachin Ravindra |
| Glenn Phillips |
| Daryl Mitchell |
| Mark Chapman |
| Mitchell Santner (C) |
| James Neesham |
| Jacob Duffy |
| Lockie Ferguson |
| Matt Henry |
Afghanistan XI
| Players |
|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| Ibrahim Zadran |
| Sediqullah Atal |
| Darwish Rasooli |
| Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Mohammad Nabi |
| Gulbadin Naib |
| Rashid Khan (C) |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Zia-ur-Rehman |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
Head-to-Head Record Before the Match
| Matches | NZ Wins | AFG Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Interestingly, Afghanistan had defeated New Zealand by 84 runs in their last World Cup meeting, making this win particularly satisfying for the Black Caps.
Pitch and Conditions at Chepauk
The MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for assisting spinners as matches progress. While the pitch slowed down, evening dew made batting easier under lights.
| Chepauk T20 Stats | Data |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Avg First Innings Score | 171 |
| Wins Batting First | 1 |
| Wins Chasing | 2 |
Weather Report
Weather conditions in Chennai were ideal for cricket, with no threat of rain.
| Factor | Condition |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 31–32°C |
| Humidity | High |
| Rain Chance | None |
What This Win Means for New Zealand
This victory sends a strong message to the rest of the tournament. New Zealand showcased:
- Batting depth
- Fearless intent
- Tactical awareness
- Ability to chase big totals under pressure
For Afghanistan, despite the loss, there were plenty of positives—particularly Gulbadin Naib’s form and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s early breakthroughs.
Conclusion:
The New zealand vs afghanistan highlights from Chennai captured everything that makes T20 cricket thrilling—pace, power, momentum swings, and individual brilliance. New Zealand’s record-breaking chase will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the T20 World Cup 2026, while Afghanistan proved once again that they are no longer underdogs but genuine competitors on the world stage.
As the tournament unfolds, both teams will take valuable lessons from this high-octane encounter—New Zealand with confidence soaring, and Afghanistan with belief intact despite the defeat.
