New Zealand vs Afghanistan: Seifert Guides Black Caps to Five-Wicket Win in T20 World Cup 2026

New Zealand vs Afghanistan encounter in the T20 World Cup 2026 ended with a high-quality chase under pressure. New Zealand hunted down a challenging Afghanistan total to win by five wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Tim Seifert’s composed strokeplay and a decisive middle-overs surge turned what looked like a tricky pursuit into a controlled finish with more than two overs to spare.

Afghanistan, batting first on a surface known to reward spin, posted 182 for 6 after recovering from an early double setback. Lockie Ferguson struck in his first over to remove both openers, but Gulbadin Naib counterpunched with authority. He drove and pulled with intent in a 63 off 35 balls knock that shifted momentum back toward Afghanistan. Sediqullah Atal provided support through a steady 29, and their partnership rebuilt the innings with smart rotation and targeted boundary hitting. Despite the late push, Mitchell Santner’s tidy spell kept the total from climbing beyond reach.

New Zealand’s reply stumbled immediately when Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed two batters in successive deliveries, forcing the Black Caps onto the defensive. Seifert and Glenn Phillips responded with calculated aggression rather than panic. They used the pace of the ball and picked gaps square of the wicket, adding a momentum-swinging stand that broke Afghanistan’s grip on the contest.

Phillips struck 42 from 25 balls and took on the change bowlers, while Seifert anchored the chase with his first half-century of the tournament, 65 from 42 balls, blending placement with clean hitting down the ground. A missed chance off Rashid Khan proved costly as Seifert pushed on and kept the required rate in check.

Once the platform was built, Daryl Mitchell and Santner shut the door on any late drama. Mitchell cleared the ropes to flatten the equation and then guided the winning run in the 18th over, sealing one of New Zealand’s most fluent chases in a global T20 event.

The result gives New Zealand early momentum in a tight group and sends a clear signal about their batting depth against elite spin attacks.