canada vs new zealand: New Zealand sail into Super 8s with eight-wicket win
New Zealand moved into the Super 8s after a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Canada in Chennai on Tuesday (ET). The result completed a decisive group day: Canada were eliminated, while New Zealand progressed after a chase controlled by unbeaten half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips.
Captain sidelined after stomach illness; XI shuffled
The contest began under a cloud for the visitors when their skipper fell ill just before the toss and was ruled out of the match. The stand-in captain explained the abrupt withdrawal and said the player had suffered food-related sickness the night before, forcing a late alteration to the side. Cole McConchie came into the XI as cover for the absent captain, while Kyle Jamieson replaced Lockie Ferguson, who had returned home days earlier for the birth of his first child and is expected to rejoin the squad for the Super 8s.
Canada set a strong total but New Zealand’s chase was clinical
Canada posted a competitive 173 for 4 after a blistering opening display. Opener Yuvraj Samra stood out with a superb century, finishing on 110 and becoming just the second centurion of the tournament so far. That effort gave Canada a solid platform, but it left the New Zealand bowlers with a target they were confident of defending.
New Zealand lost both early wickets when Tim Seifert and Finn Allen fell cheaply, creating a tense moment in the chase. That tension was short-lived. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips put together a composed partnership, both reaching unbeaten half-centuries to steer their side home with just under five overs to spare. Their partnership erased the pressure and underlined New Zealand’s depth in the middle order.
Tournament implications and what’s next
The victory secures New Zealand’s place in the Super 8s, where they are set to face England in Sri Lanka next week. For Canada, defeat ends their campaign at the group stage after earlier losses left them in a position where only a win could have extended their stay.
Elsewhere in the group phase, a handful of matches carry surprise potential; one result could dramatically reshape the final makeup of the Super 8s. Teams still vying for places will be watching closely as the first round concludes and the competition moves into a more compressed and higher-stakes phase.
New Zealand’s combination of quick recovery from early setbacks in the chase and the ability to absorb late squad changes will be encouraging signs as the tournament progresses. Canada will walk away from this match with plenty to build on after a notable century at a global event, but they will also face introspection about how to turn strong individual performances into wins in future tournaments.
