1
1
1
6
4
2
= 15
Match Details
AFG vs NZ, 4th T20, T20 WC 2026 live
NZ
183-5(17.5)
New Zealand won by 5 wickets 🏆
AFG
(20.0)182-6
+
P'ship : 28(13)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
A clinical performance by the BlackCaps. They register a win over Afghanistan by five wickets with more than two overs to spare. This is the highest successful chase by New Zealand in a T20 WC match. Tim Seifert was the star of the chase as he also brought up his first T20 WC fifty.
In Group D, which is also a kind of 'group of death', Kiwis are now on top of the points table and will next face the UAE on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will again face a formidable opponent in the form of South Africa on Wednesday.
That's it from our live coverage of this fixture. This is Mohammad Anab signing off on behalf of my colleagues Akshaya KrishnaPolya, Dev Rajawat, Aman and Raju Khariya. Stay tuned to CREX for the live coverage of the second WC fixture of the day between Nepal and England, which is going to start at 3 PM IST.
In Group D, which is also a kind of 'group of death', Kiwis are now on top of the points table and will next face the UAE on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will again face a formidable opponent in the form of South Africa on Wednesday.
That's it from our live coverage of this fixture. This is Mohammad Anab signing off on behalf of my colleagues Akshaya KrishnaPolya, Dev Rajawat, Aman and Raju Khariya. Stay tuned to CREX for the live coverage of the second WC fixture of the day between Nepal and England, which is going to start at 3 PM IST.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "It was a good day. We knew coming in that Afghanistan are a threat and they showed that today. We knew it was a massive game for us today. Started the tournament off in the right spot.
(On adapting to conditions) Yeah, I think that's the massive part of, you know, it was a little bit sticky to start, just like, I guess, with the 11 o'clock start. And I think, you know, we're playing at three, seven different grounds, so I think that's going to be a massive thing for us and probably any team throughout the competition. So, you know, get a read on surfaces and conditions and what's going to be the most effective ball.
(On pressure due to losing early wickets) Yeah. No, again, we know, you know, powerplay is such an important part of this game, whether it's with ball or bat. And, you know, Mujeeb's tricks in the power play is always going to be a challenge. And he bowled extremely well. But I think it was a flat wicket in the end, which was nice. Some nice partnerships throughout. As you said, I think most teams are trying to stack the batting. You know, most teams have a batter at eight, which is nice to have.
(Improvement ahead of next game) Yeah, I think we could just be a little bit sharper. Again, I think we held our length for a long time, which is probably good on that wicket. Three o'clock game, it might look different. It might just be flat to start. So, you know, cutters were holding a little bit, I guess, yeah. With the bat, I mean, it's those little partnerships that, you know, get you up to the big scores. So I think, you know, they ended up getting 180, which I thought was probably par on that wicket. And then, which, you know, was a good chase in the end."
(On adapting to conditions) Yeah, I think that's the massive part of, you know, it was a little bit sticky to start, just like, I guess, with the 11 o'clock start. And I think, you know, we're playing at three, seven different grounds, so I think that's going to be a massive thing for us and probably any team throughout the competition. So, you know, get a read on surfaces and conditions and what's going to be the most effective ball.
(On pressure due to losing early wickets) Yeah. No, again, we know, you know, powerplay is such an important part of this game, whether it's with ball or bat. And, you know, Mujeeb's tricks in the power play is always going to be a challenge. And he bowled extremely well. But I think it was a flat wicket in the end, which was nice. Some nice partnerships throughout. As you said, I think most teams are trying to stack the batting. You know, most teams have a batter at eight, which is nice to have.
(Improvement ahead of next game) Yeah, I think we could just be a little bit sharper. Again, I think we held our length for a long time, which is probably good on that wicket. Three o'clock game, it might look different. It might just be flat to start. So, you know, cutters were holding a little bit, I guess, yeah. With the bat, I mean, it's those little partnerships that, you know, get you up to the big scores. So I think, you know, they ended up getting 180, which I thought was probably par on that wicket. And then, which, you know, was a good chase in the end."
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "Well, definitely we didn't want things to be like this but we will definitely learn things from this game, especially in bowling. We put up a good score on the board but still, in the bowling, we gave them opportunities to score runs. That's the area where we need to improve. Mujeeb Ur Rahman started very well. Batters gave us a good start. But in bowling, after powerplay, we didn't bowl where we should have bowled.
(On team plans) We all discuss in the team meetings. We make our plans but more than that, it is important to execute our plans. It's very important to bowl according to the plan. I feel we didn't land the ball where we would have wanted. If you bowl at the stumps line and on a good length, then it is very hard to score on this wicket. I hope we don't repeat the same mistakes.
(On batting) Every batter got the opportunity and played well. The way Gurbaz played and then Gulbadin Naib batted and showed intent was excellent. We need to improve in certain areas, especially in the opening, which can sometimes put us down. It is important how we bat in the powerplay."
(On team plans) We all discuss in the team meetings. We make our plans but more than that, it is important to execute our plans. It's very important to bowl according to the plan. I feel we didn't land the ball where we would have wanted. If you bowl at the stumps line and on a good length, then it is very hard to score on this wicket. I hope we don't repeat the same mistakes.
(On batting) Every batter got the opportunity and played well. The way Gurbaz played and then Gulbadin Naib batted and showed intent was excellent. We need to improve in certain areas, especially in the opening, which can sometimes put us down. It is important how we bat in the powerplay."
Time for post-match presentations...
Most Player of the Match Awards for New Zealand in T20Is:
10 - Martin Guptill
8 - Glenn Phillips
7 - Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro
6 - Finn Allen, Tim Seifert*
10 - Martin Guptill
8 - Glenn Phillips
7 - Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro
6 - Finn Allen, Tim Seifert*
Highest Match Aggregate Involving Afghanistan in T20 WC:
381 Runs - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016
365 Runs - Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Chennai, 2026, Today*
354 Runs - Afghanistan vs India, Abu Dhabi, 2021
381 Runs - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016
365 Runs - Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Chennai, 2026, Today*
354 Runs - Afghanistan vs India, Abu Dhabi, 2021
Highest Match Aggregate Involving New Zealand in T20 WC:
370 Runs - New Zealand vs India, Johannesburg, 2007
365 Runs - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Chennai, 2026, Today*
348 Runs - New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2012
370 Runs - New Zealand vs India, Johannesburg, 2007
365 Runs - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Chennai, 2026, Today*
348 Runs - New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2012
Tim Seifert (POTM): "Nice to start the tournament with a few runs on the belt, but the main thing is we got the win. Tough conditions as well out there. Lost a couple of early wickets, so it's nice to get the job done.
(On conditions) Yeah, for us, me and Finn Allen, we're going to look to try and, you know, put pressure on the bowlers, and we thought that pace was going to be easier than spin. And then we just adapted throughout the innings there. And then I thought sometimes the spin potentially became a little bit easier than the seam. So I just went up and waved about the momentum.
(On working on his game) Oh yeah, there's always something you're working on, but I think it's just the experience of playing around the world and in some of these franchise leagues and playing with the best players in the world, and you know, adapting to every condition basically out there and also just backing yourself on how you want to go about your game."
(On conditions) Yeah, for us, me and Finn Allen, we're going to look to try and, you know, put pressure on the bowlers, and we thought that pace was going to be easier than spin. And then we just adapted throughout the innings there. And then I thought sometimes the spin potentially became a little bit easier than the seam. So I just went up and waved about the momentum.
(On working on his game) Oh yeah, there's always something you're working on, but I think it's just the experience of playing around the world and in some of these franchise leagues and playing with the best players in the world, and you know, adapting to every condition basically out there and also just backing yourself on how you want to go about your game."
Player of the Match: Tim Seifert
Most Runs for New Zealand in T20Is:
3531 - Martin Guptill
2575 - Kane Williamson
2147 - Glenn Phillips
2140 - Brendon McCullum
2018 - Tim Seifert*
3531 - Martin Guptill
2575 - Kane Williamson
2147 - Glenn Phillips
2140 - Brendon McCullum
2018 - Tim Seifert*
Commentary