Kiwi Cricket Star’s Epic Innings Drives Record Pursuit, Averts World Cup Repeat

New Zealand secured a remarkable victory against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup, thanks to Tim Seifert’s explosive innings. Seifert scored 65 runs off 42 balls, leading his team to chase down a target of 183 runs. This match, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 8, 2026, marked New Zealand’s highest score in a T20 World Cup chase.

Match Overview

Afghanistan initially set a challenging target, posting 182 runs for the loss of six wickets. New Zealand surpassed this score with 13 balls to spare, illustrating their batting prowess.

Key Performers

• Tim Seifert: Scored 65 off 42 deliveries.
• Glenn Phillips: Contributed 42 runs to the chase.
• Gulbadin Naib: Top-scored for Afghanistan with 63 runs off 35 balls.
• Rachin Ravindra: Important bowling contributions with two wickets.

Chasing Down the Target

New Zealand’s chase began shakily as they lost both Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra early, thanks to Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s excellent bowling. However, Seifert and Phillips formed a crucial partnership of 74 runs for the third wicket, stabilizing the innings against Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack.

Despite a brief setback when Phillips was dismissed by Rashid Khan, Seifert continued to dominate. He scored his fifty with a six off veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi. Throughout his innings, Seifert maintained aggressive momentum, hitting successive boundaries before ultimately being caught. Mark Chapman also contributed before Daryl Mitchell and skipper Mitchell Santner guided the team to victory.

Afghanistan’s Batting Performance

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. After losing two early wickets, they relied on a strong middle-order partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Sediqullah Atal, who added 79 runs together. Naib’s aggressive innings included his fourth T20 fifty, helping Afghanistan reach a respectable total.

Match Statistics

This victory not only emphasizes New Zealand’s strength in T20 cricket but also breaks their previous record of 167 runs chased against England in the 2021 semi-finals. With this win, New Zealand positions itself strongly in the tournament as they pursue glory.