Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a competitive 182/6 in 20 overs thanks to a key innings from Gulbadin Naib.
New Zealand began their chase steadily and finished strongly, reaching 183/5 in 17.5 overs to secure a 5-wicket victory.
Tim Seifert starred with the bat, anchoring the successful chase with a crucial half-century, while Afghanistan’s bowlers fought hard but couldn’t contain the Kiwi batting lineup.
New Zealand’s win in Chennai marked one of the tournament’s notable chases and gave them an early boost in the group stage.
Rank Team Score Opponent Year / Venue 1 Sri Lanka 260/6 Kenya 2007 – Johannesburg 2 India 256/4 Zimbabwe 2026 – Chennai 3 West Indies 254/6 Zimbabwe 2026 – Mumbai
Date: February 13, 2026Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, IndiaTournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group D Result: United Arab Emirates won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls to
