Seifert and Phillips conquer Afghanistan spin to script convincing New Zealand win

Gulbadin Naib’s half-century and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s double-strike had given Afghanistan hope but they fell well short in the end

New Zealand 183 for 5 (Seifert 65, Phillips 42, Mitchell 25*, Mujeeb 2-31) beat Afghanistan 182 for 6 (Naib 63, Ferguson 2-40) by five wickets.

New Zealand may have felt a feeling of déjà vu after Gulbadin Naib’s half-century and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s double-strike in their opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Chennai. But Tim Seifert’s own half-century and a punchy knock from Glenn Phillips offset the early damage caused by Afghanistan and set New Zealand on the way to victory in the group of death, which also includes fellow title-contenders South Africa.

Afte r Afghanistan chose to bat in a day game, they posted 182 for 6, on the back of Naib’s 35-ball 63, which looked like an above-par total on a challenging Chepauk surface, which offered substantial bounce, especially in the early exchanges, and some grip to the slower bowlers.

That total looked a whole lot bigger once Mujeeb blasted out Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in the second over of the pursuit off back-to-back balls.

Phillips, however, held out the hat-trick ball and combined aggressively with Seifert to loosen Afghanistan’s grip on the game. They snatched it from Afghanistan‘s hands when they cracks Rashid Khan for 14 in his first over. Rashid – and Afghanistan – never really recovered from that as New Zealand wrapped up the chase with five wickets and 13 balls to spare.

Ferguson shows his range

The first five overs were cagey. While Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy banged the ball away on hard lengths, Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to manufacture scoring chances. He shuffled across the stumps and scooped Duffy for six in the fourth over.

Afghanistan were fairly well-placed at 35 for 0 in five overs. Lockie Ferguson, whose return to play is being managed by the team management, hit twice in his first over and showed his range.

He started with a hard-length delivery outside off, which Ibrahim Zadran sliced ​​to point. Ferguson closed out the over with a 122kph legcutter, which fizzed back into off the pitch and had Gurbaz dragging on for 27 off 22 balls.

Ferguson also cranked it up to speeds north of 140kph, showing everyone that he could be New Zealand’s point-of-difference bowler this World Cup in the injury-enforced absence of Adam Milne.

Naib lifts Afghanistan

Naib and Sediquallah Atal came together when Afghanistan were 44 for 2 in six overs. They carried Afghanistan to 123 for 2 in the 15th over until the pair were separated by Duffy.

Naib, batting at No.3, for the first time in a T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup, crashing his career-best score. He had a Chepauk crowd of over 21,000 cheering for him when he released his signature bicep-flexing celebration after bringing up a 29-ball fifty.

Naib was on 18 off 16 balls at one point, but a swat over long-on off Phillips’ part-time offspin got him going. While Mitchell Santner was precise, the change bowlers couldn’t sustain the pressure created by the frontline bowlers. Jimmy Neesham, playing his first international game for New Zealand, since October 2025, conceded 33 runs in his three overs.

Although Duffy snagged Atal with a slower bouncer and Rachin Ravindra drew a mis-hit from Naib in the 18th over, cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai took Afghanistan past 180.

Seifert, Phillips crash Mujeeb’s party

Mujeeb, picked ahead of left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmed who has also had success at Chepauk with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, set to work by rattling the stumps of Allen with a 100kph skidder. Next ball, he got one to angle in from around the wicket and swing away to brush Ravindra’s off stump. New Zealand were reduced to 14 for 2 in the second over.

Despite the double-blow, Seifert remained true to his attacking style and claimed 31 of the 52 runs New Zealand scored in the powerplay. He was onto anything that was remote full and whacked left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi for 24 off 11 balls.

Rashid then came into the attack after the powerplay, and it was Philips who threw the first punch. When Rashid pushed one through onto the slot, Phillips pumped the legspinner for six and next ball he went right back to swat him away to the midwicket boundary.

When Rashid returned for his second over, he casteld him for 42, but by then New Zealand had slashed 88 runs off their target. Seifert then went onto raise his half-century off 38 balls with a six. Although Nabi stopped Seifert innings at 65 off 42 balls, captain Santner and his close friend Daryl Mitchell got the job done for New Zealand.

New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by 5 wickets on February 8, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to begin their T20 World Cup campaign. Anchored by Tim Seifert (65) and Glenn Phillips (42), the Black Caps successfully chased 183, marking their highest-ever successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.

Match Summary: New Zealand versus Afghanistan (T20 World Cup 2026)

Category Details
Final Score Afghanistan 182/6 (20 overs) | New Zealand 183/5 (17.5 overs)
Result New Zealand won by 5 wickets(with 13 balls to spare)
Player of the Match Tim Seifert (65 runs off 42 balls)
Key Stand Seifert and Phillips: 74 runs for the 3rd wicket
VenueMA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Key Highlights

Seifert and Phillips Conquer Spin: After being reduced to 14/2 in the second over by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Seifert and Phillips blunted Afghanistan‘s spin attack. Phillips took 14 runs off Rashid Khan’s first over, while Seifert hit Mohammed Nabi for back-to-back sixes to reach his fifty.
Afghanistan’s Early Strike: Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/31) gave Afghanistan hope by dismissing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra on consecutive deliveries in the second over.
Afghanistan’s Innings: Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a career-best 63 off 35 balls. Lockie Ferguson was the choose of the New Zealand bowlers with 2/32.
Finishing Touches: Following the dismisses of Seifert and Phillips, Mark Chapman (28), Daryl Mitchell (25), and captain Mitchell Santner (17) guided the team to victory comfortably.
Top Performers

New Zealand Batting

Tim Seifert: 65 (42) — 7 fours, 3 sixes
Glenn Phillips: 42 (25) — 7 fours, 1 six
Afghanistan Batting
Gulbadin Naib: 63 (35)—3 fours, 4 sixes
Sediqullah Atal: 29 (24) — 1 four
Bowling
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG): 2/31 (4 overs)
Lockie Ferguson(NZ):2/32(4 overs)

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