Opener Tim Seifert’s 65 off 42 has guided New Zealand to a win over Afghanistan in a crucial Group D game in Chennai
New Zealand have avenged their 2024 loss to Afghanistan with a thumping five-wicket win at the T20 World Cup.
In what is expected to shape up as the toughest pool in the tournament, with 2024 finalists South Africa also in Group D, New Zealand cruised to 5-183 – their highest ever chase at a T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare on Sunday.
Gulbadin Naib, batting at No.3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked the Black Caps out of the race to the semis with an 84-run win in Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls as Afghanistan posted 6-182 after winning the toss.
But opener Tim Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.
Mujeeb clean-bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls, before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced legspinner.
Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips exposed his stumps against a full-pitched ball and dragged it back onto his stumps.
But Rashid couldn’t hold on to a sharp return catch from Seifert before the opener had reached his half-century.
Seifert completed his half-century in style by smacking offspinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary, before he was caught at deep square leg.
Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get the Black Caps home in the team’s first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).
Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).
Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls, but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with their fifth bowler.
James Neesham conceded 33 off his three overs, and part-time spinners Phillips and Ravindra gave away 26 off their two overs.
All matches will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video
