New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026 Live Cricket Score Updates: Gulbadin Naib has scored a half century in Chennai. (AP Photo)New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026: Riding on Tim Seifert’s 65 (in 42 balls) and Glenn Phillips’s 42 (in 25), New Zealand managed to win their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against Afghanistan where they are chasing a target of 183 runs.
New Zealand had a shaky start with Mujeeb Ur Rahman picking up two wickets in two balls — Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra — in the second over of the New Zealand innings.
New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Match – Live Cricket Score, Full Scorecard
Thanks to Gulbadin Naib’s 63 off 35 balls, Afghanistan managed a total of 182/6 in the first innings of their first group stage game of the T20 World Cup. This was Naib’s maiden T20 World Cup half century. Afghanistan have never lost a T20 World Cup game after scoring over 175 in the first innings. Meanwhile, the highest target that New Zealand have chased down in T20 World Cups is 167.
Naib stabilised the Afghanistan innings after they lost both their openers Ibrahim Zadran (10) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) in one over from Lockie Ferguson to slump to 44/2 after six overs. Afghanistan had opted to bat first after winning the toss at Chennai on Sunday in their The last time New Zealand and Afghanistan met in the group stage of a T20 World Cup, the latter gave the Kiwis a hammering that they could never come back from. Rahmanulla Gurbaz’s 56-ball 80 had helped Afghanistan to a score of 159/6 in Guyana. New Zealand though, crumbled to four-wicket haulrs from captain Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi and were all out for a paltry 75.
While New Zealand may have revenge on their minds, they are going into this year’s tournament with a depleted squad. They were pummelled by India 4-1 going into the T20 World Cup. Batters Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway have been struck down with illness, while Finn Allen is nursing a shoulder injury he sustained in that series against India. Meanwhile, allrounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson have been dealing with calf issues.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman
New Zealand win by five wickets in Chennai in what will be their highest chase ever in T20 World Cups.
It was Tim Seifert's 65 (from 42 balls) and Glenn Phillips's 42 (from 25) that helped the Black Caps win after a game where they lost two wickets in two balls of the second over.
The victory means they avoid a repeat of the defeat they suffered in Guyana at the last T20 World Cup to Afghanistan.
A 15-run over for New Zealand means the required rate is under a run a ball now! Mitchell Santner hit the final two balls of Ziaur Rahman's over for a six and a four.
New Zealand need 13 runs from 18 balls now!
Mark Chapman gives away his wicket and despite the target being within touching distance, New Zealand are now five wickets down!
Getting a little too close for comfort for NZ.
Mark Chapman c Rashid Khan b Azmatullah Omarzai 28 (17b 2x4 1x6) SR: 164.7
After Chapman's wicket, NZ need 28 from 26 balls!
A couple of good overs for New Zealand right after they lost top scorer Tim Seifert to Rashid. 10 runs in the 14th over and 15 runs in the 15th over means that New Zealand cross the 150-run mark.
New Zealand now need 32 runs from 30 balls.
Tim Seifert departs for 65, but not before he plunders 16 runs in three balls with two sixes and a boundary off Mohammad Nabi's first over!
Finally, Seifert stretches his luck too far and ends up handing a catch on the ropes to Omarzai at deep backward square leg.
He's left the team in a great position to get to the finish line.
Tim Seifert c Azmatullah Omarzai b Mohammad Nabi 65 (42b 7x4 3x6) SR: 154.76
What a costly miss this could be! Seifert is batting on 48 when he hits a ball from Rashid Khan straight back at him. Rashid gets both hands on the ball the first time. But cannot catch it, the ball bounces behind him, Rashid turns gets one hand on it. Still unable to catch it. Rashid falls on the ground trying to catch it. Again gets one hand on the ball. But spills it!
He got three chances to grab the ball!
And right after that catch is dropped, Seifert crossed the half century milestone!
Despite losing their 3rd wicket, New Zealand still looking at ease in this chase of 183 runs. Seifert is closing in on his half century while Chapman has joined him out in the middle.
It took them just 11 overs, and New Zealand now need just 82 runs from 54 balls.
NZ are 101/3 after 11 overs
Afghanistan have their third wicket! Another batter from New Zealand is bowled by a spinner. This time, it's Glenn Phillips who chopped the ball to his own stumps while trying to hit it for a six over the long off!
Glenn Phillips b Rashid Khan 42 (25b 7x4 1x6) SR: 168
New Zealand are 88/3
New Zealand have taken control of this chase. Both Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips are in a race to get to the 50-run milestone ahead of the other.
Seifert is on 40 from 28 balls, with Phillips on 42 from 24 balls.
New Zealand are 87/2 after 9 overs
So after losing two wickets in two balls, New Zealand have managed to course correct, thanks to Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips. They ease the team's score past the 50-run mark just as the powerplay ends.
After 6 overs, NZ are 52/2
After that over from Mujeeb where he made some New Zealand batters look like they were facing a spinner for the first time in their career, Rashid hands the ball to Azmatullah Omarzai, who is, the put it mildly, wayward in his first over!
Omarzai gives away 11 runs in an over that followed Mujeeb's two runs, two-wicket effort.
Two wides and a boundary there, to give the New Zealand side a reprieve and a half.
After three overs, NZ are 25/2
After an over that saw Seifert score three boundaries, New Zealand almost lose three wickets in the second over. Mujeeb Ur Rahman picks up the wickets of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in two successive deliveries. Allen tried to pull the ball, and missed the ball completely. Rachin Ravindra, on the other hand, was completely caught out with the turn of the ball that gentled straightened on him. Ravindra was trying to hit the ball to mid on, and missed the trajectory completely!
Finn Allen b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
Rachin Ravindra b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
And suddenly, Mujeeb is on a hat-trick!
Unfortunately, while he ends the over with two more menacing balls, Mujeeb does not get his hattrick!
After 2 overs, NZ are 14/2
Tim Seifert takes strike for New Zealand as they chase a target of 183. And he's immediately goes after the pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, hitting three of the six balls from his first over for boundaries! Two of those sped past the fielder at mid off, and the middle boundary was past backward point!
A good start for NZ who are 12/0 after the first over!
So New Zealand have to chase 183 runs in the game at a required run rate of 9.15.
The stats favour Afghanistan. Afghanistan have never lost a T20 World Cup game after scoring over 175 in the first innings. Meanwhile, the highest target that New Zealand have chased down in T20 World Cups is 167.
A six on the final ball of the 19th over, a six on the first ball of the 20th over. And it felt like AFG were prepping for a final flourish. But the AFG innings ends with Omarzai getting run out.
183 runs to win for New Zealand.
Azmatullah Omarzai run out (Neesham/Ferguson) 14 (7b 0x4 2x6) SR: 200
Another wicket gone! This time it's Rasooli, who had provided all the fireworks in the previous over. Afghanistan innings losing steam quickly. At one stage it looked like they would cross 180 easily.
Darwish Rasooli c Phillips b Henry 20 (13b 1x4 1x6) SR: 153.84
An interesting throw of the dice by New Zealand who opt to bring in Rachin. On the first ball, he is tonked for a maximum by Naib. On the second ball, Rachin gets the wicket of Naib! This time again as the ball flies in the sky, Seifert chases after it and calls for it. Unlike the last time, this time no one comes in the middle and he complete the catch with ease.
Gulbadin Naib c †Seifert b Ravindra 63 (35b 3x4 4x6) SR: 180
The over ends with Azmatullah Omarzai hitting another six!
14 runs and a wicket in that over from Rachin Ravindra.
After 18 overs, AFG are 164/4
After a quiet 16th over which yielded just 5 runs, the next over sees new batter Darwish Rasooli attacking from the first ball. And we have 15 runs in the over as the Afghans look set to make a dash towards the finish line with 200 runs on their mind.
After 17 overs, AFG are 150/3
Just when the time looked right for Afghanistan innings to take off, they have lost their third wicket!
Atal departs after trying to hook a short ball, but ending up top edging it into the hands of the keeper.
Sediqullah Atal c †Seifert b Duffy 29 (24b 2x4 0x6) SR: 120.83
Sent in to bat at No 3 today, Gulbadin Naib gets to his 50 in just 30 balls. Reaches there with a single, right after he smashes another maximum!
A good innings from Naib, just when the Afghan team needed it from him!
An 18-run over as AFG batters go bang bang and plunder two fours and a six. Gulbadin Naib finding his range. He tonked that fifth ball from Neesham over midwicket for a glorious six!
And the 100-run milestone is crossed in that over!
The Afghan fans are flexing their muscles in the stands, literally, in celebration.
After 13 overs, AFG are 110/2
Lockie Ferguson is finally handed a second over, six overs after he picked up two wickets in one over. But this time around, he cannot replicate that success!
You just get a sense that the Afghan batters are just biding their time. For now, both Gulbadin Naib and Sediqullah Atal are happy to pick the occasional boundary.
After 12 overs, AFG are 92/2
Gulbadin Naib 29 (21b 1x4 1x6) | Sediqullah Atal 20 (17b 1x4)
Strange from New Zealand, who have not given Lockie Ferguson a second over after he picked up two wickets in the first over. Gulbadin Naib 16 (14b 1x4) and Sediqullah Atal 14 (12b 1x4) are not taking too much risk, but trying to set the stage for a massive explosion at the end of the innings.
After 10 overs, AFG are 72/2
Just when the runs were starting to flow for the Afghan openers, Lockie Ferguson is brought in on the final over of the powerplay. And he thanks his keeper with a wicket of Ibrahim Zadran on the first ball! Slapped the ball straight at the fielder at point!
Ibrahim Zadran c Phillips b Ferguson 10 (12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 83.33
And Ferguson is not done! He started the over with a wicket, and he ends it with another wicket. A slower one kisses the inside edge of Gurbaz's bat and he is bowled! Both AFG openers back in the hut in the same over!
Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Ferguson 27 (22b 2x4 1x6) SR: 122.72
After 6 overs, AFG are 44/2
Gurbaz looked like he was about to do something reckless with boundaries not coming. But on the fifth ball of the fourth over, he finally middles one and it flies over the ropes for a maximum! And on the next ball itself, he finds a boundary on the midwicket ropes.
On the first ball of the next over, bowled by Matt Henry, there is another boundary. You get the sense that the Afghan openers are starting to find their range now.
After 4.1 overs, AFG are 30/0
A good measure of a team not being a well-oiled machine is having comical blunders in the field. New Zealand have just had one. If the first day of the T20 World Cup saw some clinical catches, day 2 of the event starts with a horror drop in the third over.
Gurbaz slashes at the ball from Matt Henry and the ball flies over the keeper's head. Three New Zealand fielders run back, all three pairs of eyes in the sky. The keeper Seifert looked like he had called for the catch, but just when he was about to get his gloves on the ball, Allen, who ran in from short fine leg almost tackled him! The third fielder could not help buyt smile!
"They are the Black Caps not the All Blacks," mentions the commentator with a chuckle making a reference to the legendary national rugby team of New Zealand.
What a reprieve.
After three overs, AFG are 15/0
Gurbaz and Ibrahim in the middle for AFG. Matt Henry has the ball for NZ first up!
A single to start the game and the AFG innings. But on the second ball, a sharp ball from Henry beats Ibrahim and almost trickles back to the stumps. Tricky that one.
It takes only four balls of the first over for the AFG team to make their intent known: Gurbaz charges down and throws his bat. He cannot middle it, so the ball flies over the fielder at point. It's far from the fielder, so not a catching chance!
On the next ball, Gurbaz repeats his shot and this time it flies over extra cover. Once again, not middled well enough to go to the boundary and not badly enough to be caught.
After one over, AFG are 6/0
Here we go! Players out for the national anthems. A big game for both teams. New Zealand have lost their last series to India before the World Cup while Afghanistan come into the game on the back of comprehensive wins over the West Indies and Scotland.
So Rashid Khan gets the toss call right and he wants his team to bat first! This will be a trial by fire for the New Zealand side, who are coming into the World Cup on the heels of a humbling by the Indian team in similar conditions.
Afghanistan come into the game fresh off warm-up game victories against the West Indies and Scotland. The formale for success for the Afghan side is simple: top-order batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provide the start to the innings. And in bowling, in the absence of the injured Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi will lead the charge with the new ball.
For many years, India has been like a home to the Afghanistan cricket team. So the fact that they will play all their group stage games in India (as opposed to travelling to Sri Lanka) will give them plenty of hope of making it to the next round.
They play their tournament opener against New Zealand today at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, which is where they had taken down Pakistan with ease in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
T20I head-to-head: 2 matches, 1–1 (both teams 50% win rate).
Most recent meeting (7 Jun 2024): Afghanistan won by 84 runs (venue: Guyana). Player of the Match: Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Previous meeting (7 Nov 2021): New Zealand won by 8 wickets (venue: Abu Dhabi). Player of the Match: Trent Boult.
Two years ago, Afghanistan's stunning 84-run victory over New Zealand in Guyana at the T20 World Cup will still rankle the Black Caps. The result had led to New Zealand crashing out of an ICC event unnaturally early while Afghanistan had managed to ride the wave of that upset all the way to the semi-finals.
Can they manage another upset today?
Here we go! After three games on the first day of the T20 World Cup, day 2 of the event starts off with a game between New Zealand and Afghanistan.
Stay tuned for all the live updates from the game on our blog.
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