New Zealand Won by 5 Wickets Against Afghanistan – 4th Match, Group D
New Zealand secured a thrilling 5-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the 4th Match of Group D at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chasing 183 runs, the Kiwis reached the target in just 17.5 overs thanks to Tim Seifert’s explosive 65 and Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 25. This crucial T20 World Cup 2026 win keeps New Zealand’s campaign on track despite early scares from Afghanistan’s world-class spin attack.
Match Result Summary
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Winner | New Zealand |
| Margin | 5 wickets |
| Balls Remaining | 13 balls |
| Afghanistan Score | 182/6 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand Score | 183/5 (17.5 overs) |
| Player of Match | Tim Seifert (65 off 42) |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
New Zealand’s victory came with 13 balls to spare, showcasing their batting depth and ability to chase down challenging targets even after losing early wickets to Afghanistan’s spinners.
How New Zealand Won by 5 Wickets
The chase started disastrously for New Zealand with both openers dismissed within two overs, but a match-winning partnership between Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips steadied the ship before the lower middle order finished the job.
Chase Breakdown
| Phase | Overs | Runs Scored | Wickets Lost | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | 1-6 | 45/2 | 2 | Double strike by Mujeeb |
| Middle Overs | 7-12 | 79/2 | 2 | Seifert-Phillips partnership |
| Death Overs | 13-17.5 | 59/1 | 1 | Mitchell’s finishing touch |
Winning Formula:
- Tim Seifert’s counter-attacking 65 off 42 balls
- Glenn Phillips’s aggressive 42 off 25 balls
- Mark Chapman’s crucial 28 off 17 balls
- Daryl Mitchell’s calm 25* off 14 balls to finish
New Zealand Innings – Complete Scorecard
Batting Performance
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert | 65 | 42 | 6 | 2 | 154.76 | c Omarzai b Nabi |
| Glenn Phillips | 42 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 168.00 | b Rashid Khan |
| Mark Chapman | 28 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 164.70 | c Rashid b Omarzai |
| Daryl Mitchell | 25* | 14 | 2 | 8 | 178.57 | not out |
| Mitchell Santner | 17* | 8 | 1 | 2 | 212.50 | not out |
| Finn Allen | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | b Mujeeb |
| Rachin Ravindra | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | b Mujeeb |
Extras: 5 (nb 2, w 3) Total: 183/5 in 17.5 overs Run Rate: 10.26 runs per over Required Rate: 9.15 runs per over
Fall of Wickets
New Zealand’s chase had dramatic moments with early wickets followed by crucial partnerships:
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over | Partnership Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 14 | Finn Allen | 1.3 | Early blow |
| 2nd | 14 | Rachin Ravindra | 1.4 | Double strike crisis |
| 3rd | 88 | Glenn Phillips | 9.2 | 74-run partnership broken |
| 4th | 124 | Tim Seifert | 12.5 | 36-run stand |
| 5th | 155 | Mark Chapman | 15.4 | 31-run contribution |
The 2nd wicket partnership of 74 runs between Seifert and Phillips was the match-turning stand, rescuing New Zealand from 14/2.
Afghanistan Bowling Analysis
Afghanistan’s bowlers fought hard but couldn’t defend 182 despite early breakthroughs:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 | Double strike in 2nd over |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 | Dismissed dangerous Phillips |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 3.5 | 40 | 1 | 10.43 | Death overs punishment |
| Mohammad Nabi | 1 | 18 | 1 | 18.00 | Removed set batsman Seifert |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 | Expensive powerplay |
| Ziaur Rahman | 3 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 | No breakthroughs |
Mujeeb’s Magic: The mystery spinner’s double strike in the 2nd over (both wickets in consecutive balls) gave Afghanistan hope of defending their total.
Rashid’s Threat: The captain’s dismissal of the dangerous Glenn Phillips at 88 kept the match alive, but lack of support from other bowlers cost them.
Afghanistan Innings – Quick Recap
Afghanistan posted 182/6 thanks to Gulbadin Naib’s explosive 63 off 35 balls:
| Top Scorers | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulbadin Naib | 63 | 35 | 180.00 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 29 | 24 | 120.83 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 27 | 22 | 122.72 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 20 | 13 | 153.84 |
New Zealand’s Best Bowlers:
- Lockie Ferguson: 2/40 in 4 overs
- Matt Henry: 1/27 in 4 overs (most economical)
- Mitchell Santner: 0/23 in 4 overs
Key Match-Winning Moments
Tim Seifert’s Counter-Attack (Overs 3-12): After the double strike disaster, Seifert took charge with aggressive strokeplay, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 154.76. His 65 off 42 balls provided the foundation for victory.
Seifert-Phillips Partnership (74 runs): This 74-run stand for the 3rd wicket turned the match decisively in New Zealand’s favor, taking the required rate from challenging to comfortable.
Daryl Mitchell’s Finishing: Coming in with pressure mounting, Mitchell’s unbeaten 25 off 14 balls (SR 178.57) ensured New Zealand crossed the line with minimal fuss.
Mitchell Santner’s Cameo: The captain’s quickfire 17* off just 8 balls (SR 212.50) sealed the deal, showing New Zealand’s incredible batting depth.
Tournament Implications
This victory has significant implications for the T20 World Cup 2026 groups standings:
New Zealand:
- First win in Group D
- 2 points earned
- Positive net run rate boost
- Confidence heading into next matches
Afghanistan:
- Winless start to campaign
- Despite competitive performance
- Need victories in remaining matches
- Net run rate takes a hit
The points table now shows New Zealand with momentum while Afghanistan must regroup quickly.
Player of the Match
Tim Seifert was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning 65 off 42 balls. His innings included:
- 6 boundaries and 2 sixes
- Strike rate of 154.76
- Match-turning partnership with Phillips
- Rescued New Zealand from 14/2
Seifert’s ability to attack Afghanistan’s feared spin trio under pressure demonstrated his class and temperament.
What This Result Means
For New Zealand: This chase showcased their batting depth and ability to win under pressure. Despite losing both openers cheaply to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, they had enough firepower in the middle and lower order to comfortably reach the target.
For Afghanistan: Despite posting a competitive 182, their bowling lacked the penetration needed after the early breakthroughs. Rashid Khan’s lone wicket wasn’t enough, and the lack of support from other bowlers proved costly.
Tournament Perspective: New Zealand announced themselves as serious contenders, while Afghanistan needs to bounce back quickly to keep their knockout stage hopes alive according to the tournament schedule.
Match Statistics
Highest Partnership: 74 runs (Seifert & Phillips, 3rd wicket) Best Bowling: Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/31 Most Runs: Tim Seifert 65 Most Sixes in Match: 19 (Afghanistan 13, New Zealand 6) Winning Margin: 5 wickets with 13 balls remaining
Frequently Asked Questions
How did New Zealand won by 5 wickets against Afghanistan? New Zealand chased down 183 runs in 17.5 overs, losing only 5 wickets. Tim Seifert’s 65 and Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 25 guided them to victory with 13 balls remaining.
Who was Player of the Match in New Zealand vs Afghanistan? Tim Seifert won Player of the Match for his match-winning 65 runs off 42 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 154.76.
What was Afghanistan’s total score? Afghanistan scored 182/6 in their full 20 overs, with Gulbadin Naib top-scoring with an explosive 63 off 35 balls.
Who took wickets for Afghanistan? Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the most successful bowler with 2/31, while Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi took one wicket each.
What was the margin of New Zealand’s victory? New Zealand won by 5 wickets with 13 balls remaining, chasing down the target of 183 in just 17.5 overs.
Where was the match played? The match was played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, as part of Group D in T20 World Cup 2026.
