Afghanistan vs New Zealand — 4th Match (ICC Men’s T20 World Cup) - Result, Highlights & Full Scorecard
SCORECARD
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
b Ferguson
|
27 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 123 |
|
Ibrahim Zadran
c Phillips b Ferguson
|
10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83 |
|
Gulbadin Naib
c Seifert b Ravindra
|
63 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 180 |
|
Sediqullah Atal
c Seifert b Duffy
|
29 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 121 |
|
Darwish Rasooli
c Phillips b Henry
|
20 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 154 |
|
Azmatullah Omarzai
run out (Neesham/Ferguson)
|
14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 200 |
|
Mohammad Nabi
not out
|
10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 143 |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.8 |
| Jacob Duffy | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.0 |
| James Neesham | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.0 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.8 |
| Glenn Phillips | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.0 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 14.0 |
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TL Seifert
c Azmatullah Omarzai b Mohammad Nabi
|
65 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 155 |
|
FH Allen
b Mujeeb Ur Rahman
|
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
|
R Ravindra
b Mujeeb Ur Rahman
|
🦆 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
GD Phillips
b Rashid Khan
|
42 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 168 |
|
MS Chapman
c Rashid Khan b Azmatullah Omarzai
|
28 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 165 |
|
DJ Mitchell
not out
|
25 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 179 |
|
MJ Santner
not out
|
17 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 213 |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.5 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.8 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 3.5 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.4 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.0 |
| Ziaur Rahman | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.0 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 18.0 |
AFG vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview, Prediction, and Pitch Report
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has reached a fever pitch as Afghanistan takes on New Zealand in a critical Group D clash. Scheduled for February 8, 2026, at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai, this match is widely being called the “Battle of the Spinners.”
With both teams eyeing a spot in the Super 8s, here is everything you need to know: from player form to the “Chepauk” pitch secrets.
📊 Head-to-Head & Recent Form
Historically, New Zealand dominated this fixture, but the gap has closed significantly in the last two years.
Last 5 T20 Meetings
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2024 World Cup: Afghanistan won by 84 runs (Guyana)
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2022 World Cup: Match Abandoned (Rain)
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2021 World Cup: New Zealand won by 8 wickets (Abu Dhabi)
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(Note: These teams play rarely in T20Is outside of ICC events, making every meeting high-stakes.)
Recent Performance (Last 5 T20s)
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Afghanistan: W, W, L, W, W (Coming off a massive 23-run warm-up win against West Indies on Feb 4).
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New Zealand: W, L, L, L, L (Struggled in their recent series against India, but won their warm-up against USA by 7 runs).
🏟️ Pitch Report: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The Chepauk surface underwent a massive drainage and outfield revamp in late 2025, but the soul of the pitch remains the same: Spin, Spin, and more Spin.
-
Surface: Expect a dry, crumbling track that offers significant turn from over 6 onwards.
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Morning Game (11:00 AM IST): Unlike night games, there will be zero dew factor. This means the team bowling second won’t have to worry about a wet ball, making the toss slightly less “win-or-die.”
-
Average 1st Innings Score: 165–175. Anything above 180 is considered a match-winning total here.
🌟 Players to Watch (Stats & Form)
Afghanistan
-
Rashid Khan: The skipper is in elite form. In his last 5 T20Is (including the series vs West Indies), he has taken 10 wickets with an incredible economy of 5.80.
-
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The hero of their 2024 win over the Kiwis. He thrives on slow tracks where he can use his feet to the spinners.
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Fazalhaq Farooqi: Watch for his left-arm swing in the first 2 overs. He recently dismantled the Scots in the warm-ups with a 3-wicket haul.
New Zealand
-
Mitchell Santner: On a Chennai track, Santner is a wizard. He knows these conditions better than any non-Indian player thanks to his years with CSK.
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Finn Allen: The “X-Factor.” He hit a world-record 151 (52) in Major League Cricket recently. If he survives the first 4 overs of spin, he can take the game away.
-
Matt Henry: Fresh off a 5-wicket haul (5/32) against the USA on Feb 5, he is the Kiwis’ primary weapon at the death.
🔮 Probable Playing XIs
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan (c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
🏆 Match Prediction & Win Probability
While New Zealand has the “big stage” experience, the Chennai conditions give Afghanistan a massive tactical advantage. New Zealand has historically struggled against high-quality leg-spin on turning tracks.
-
Win Probability: New Zealand 55% | Afghanistan 45%
-
Verdict: If Afghanistan bats first and puts up 170+, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be nearly impossible to chase down on this pitch. However, the Kiwis’ depth in the middle order (Phillips/Neesham) makes them slight favorites.
Match Squad
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
New Zealand
Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
NZ vs AFG Match Summary — ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
New Zealand (NZ) produced a clinical run chase to defeat Afghanistan (AFG) by 5 wickets in the 4th Match, Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Chasing a competitive total of 182, the Blackcaps completed the target in 17.5 overs, showcasing aggressive batting and smart game awareness on a batting-friendly Chepauk surface.
Afghanistan looked in control after posting a strong first-innings total, but New Zealand’s powerful middle-order counterattack changed the momentum of the match. The game featured explosive batting, crucial bowling spells, and multiple milestones that made it one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far.
1st Innings — Afghanistan (AFG) Batting
Afghanistan posted 182-6 in 20 overs, driven by a dominant middle-order partnership after early wickets slowed their start. The pitch at Chepauk offered consistent bounce, allowing stroke-makers to accelerate once settled.
AFG Batters
Gulbadin Naib ⭐ 63 (35), 3 fours, 4 sixes, SR 180.00
Sediqullah Atal 29 (24), 2 fours, 0 sixes, SR 120.83
Rahmanullah Gurbaz 27 (22), 2 fours, 1 six, SR 122.73
Darwish Rasooli 20 (13), 1 four, 1 six, SR 153.85
Azmatullah Omarzai 14 (7), 0 fours, 2 sixes, SR 200.00
The partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Sediqullah Atal added stability and acceleration during the middle overs, pushing Afghanistan toward a strong total.
NZ Bowlers
Lockie Ferguson 4-0-40-2, ECO 10.00 🎯
Matt Henry 4-0-27-1, ECO 6.80
Jacob Duffy 3-0-30-1, ECO 10.00
Rachin Ravindra 1-0-14-1, ECO 14.00
Despite conceding runs, New Zealand managed to break partnerships at key moments to prevent Afghanistan from crossing the 200-run mark.
2nd Innings — New Zealand (NZ) Chase
New Zealand chased 183-5 in 17.5 overs with an aggressive approach despite losing two wickets early in the powerplay. The recovery was led by Tim Seifert, whose attacking innings shifted the pressure back onto Afghanistan.
NZ Batters
Tim Seifert ⭐ 65 (42), 7 fours, 3 sixes, SR 154.76
Glenn Phillips 42 (25), 7 fours, 1 six, SR 168.00
Mark Chapman 28 (17), 2 fours, 1 six, SR 164.71
Daryl Mitchell 25* (14), 1 four, 1 six, SR 178.57
Mitchell Santner 17* (8), 2 fours, 1 six, SR 212.50
The turning point came when Seifert and Phillips built a strong partnership after the early double-strike. Their attacking intent neutralized Afghanistan’s spin threat and shifted the required run rate comfortably in New Zealand’s favor.
AFG Bowlers
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-31-2, ECO 7.80 🔥
Rashid Khan 4-0-36-1, ECO 9.00
Azmatullah Omarzai 3.5-0-40-1, ECO 10.40
Mohammad Nabi 1-0-18-1, ECO 18.00
Mujeeb briefly brought Afghanistan back into the contest with two wickets in two balls, but New Zealand’s batting depth proved decisive.
Match Stats & Records (Data Insights)
Key Match Statistics
New Zealand completed the chase with 13 balls remaining, recording one of their strongest T20 World Cup run chases.
Milestones & Records
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New Zealand registered their highest successful T20 World Cup chase.
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The chase became the highest successful T20I run chase at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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Gulbadin Naib crossed 1,000 T20I runs during his innings.
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Afghanistan lost a T20 World Cup match after scoring 175+ for the first time.
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s double-strike in the powerplay briefly changed momentum.
Pitch & Match Turning Point
The Chepauk pitch played better for batting than expected, with consistent bounce and shorter boundaries aiding stroke play. Afghanistan’s total looked competitive, but New Zealand’s fearless batting in the middle overs proved decisive.
The turning point came during the Seifert–Phillips partnership, which dismantled Afghanistan’s spin attack and reduced the required run rate dramatically.
Match Result
New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: Tim Seifert for his match-winning 65 off 42 balls.
This victory gives New Zealand (NZ) a strong start in Group D, while Afghanistan (AFG) will look to recover in their upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixtures