3 min read
New Zealand has officially kickstarted their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a decisive win against Afghanistan. The Black Caps successfully chased down a target of 183, largely thanks to a dominant batting display from Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips. This was a record-breaking chase by New Zealand as their previous best in the T20 World Cup was their 167-run chase against England in the 2021 semi-final.
It felt like a very good batting pitch with true pace and even bounce. Additionally, the outfield was quick. Consequently, both sides were able to clear the ropes and keep the chase ahead of the rate. The only real help for bowlers was when they hit hard lengths or used the slower ball well. Otherwise, 182 was always chaseable, and New Zealand proved it with time to spare.
The Turning Point
The match hung in the balance early in the second innings. However, the game shifted dramatically during the partnership between Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips. They scored at a blistering rate, making the target of 182 feel suddenly gettable.
Once they accelerated, the pressure flipped back onto Afghanistan’s bowlers. Consequently, even late wickets couldn’t drag the game back. For many analysts, Seifert’s explosive 65 off 42 balls set the template. His clean boundary-hitting at the top gave New Zealand control of the tempo early on. Therefore, the chase never felt like it was getting away.
First Innings: Naib’s Late Surge
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan posted a competitive total. Gulbadin Naib provided real momentum with a late surge, scoring a rapid 63 off just 35 balls. His innings included 3 fours and 4 sixes, striking at 180.00.
Supporting knocks came from Sediqullah Atal (29) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27). However, New Zealand’s bowlers managed to take wickets at key moments. Lockie Ferguson claimed 2 wickets for 40 runs, while Mitchell Santner bowled a tight spell, conceding just 23 runs in his 4 overs.
Afghanistan Batting Card:
- Gulbadin Naib: 63 (35)
- Sediqullah Atal: 29 (24)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 27 (22)
Second Innings: The Chase
New Zealand’s response was commanding. Despite losing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra early to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Seifert anchored the innings. Glenn Phillips provided aggressive support, smashing 42 off 25 balls with 7 fours and a six.
After their departure, Mark Chapman (28) and Daryl Mitchell (25*) ensured there were no further hiccups. Mitchell Santner finished the game with a quickfire 17 not out.
New Zealand Batting Card:
- Tim Seifert: 65 (42)
- Glenn Phillips: 42 (25)
- Mark Chapman: 28 (17)
Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 31 runs, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Kiwis. New Zealand will be quite happy with this commanding victory in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026, resulting in a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +1.162.
