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CHENNAI: Tim Seifert anchored a composed chase as New Zealand overcame a brisk Afghanistan total to secure a five-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare in their Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
Set 183 for victory after Afghanistan elected to bat first, New Zealand lost early wickets but recovered through Seifert’s assured 65 off 42 balls, an innings that blended clean striking with smart rotation on a surface offering grip for the spinners. The wicket-keeper-batsman added crucial partnerships through the middle overs to keep the chase firmly on track.
Afghanistan had earlier posted a competitive 182 for six built around Gulbadin Naib’s aggressive 63 off 35 balls. After a cautious start that saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran dismissed inside the powerplay, Naib counterattacked with authority, targeting the shorter boundaries and lifting Afghanistan’s run rate through the middle overs.
Sediqullah Atal supported Naib with a measured 29 while late cameos from Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi ensured Afghanistan finished strongly despite New Zealand’s disciplined bowling at the death. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets while Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy chipped in with one apiece.
New Zealand’s reply began shakily when Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra fell cheaply to Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, leaving the Black Caps 14 for two. Seifert and Glenn Phillips then steadied the innings with a fluent stand, Phillips striking 42 off 25 balls before Rashid Khan broke the partnership when he clean bowled Phillips.
With the required rate hovering just under ten, Seifert continued to find the gaps before being dismissed in the 13th over. By then, the chase was well within reach. Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner finished the job calmly, punishing loose deliveries as Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain them in the final overs.
The win gave New Zealand their first two points in Group D while Afghanistan were left to rue missed chances and an inability to stem the scoring once Seifert settled.
Summarised score:
Afghanistan 182/6 in 20 overs (Gulbadin Naib 63 off 35 balls, Sediqullah Atal 29, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 27; Lockie Ferguson 2-40, Matt Henry 1-27, Jacob Duffy 1-30).
New Zealand 183/5 in 17.5 overs (Tim Seifert 65 off 42 balls, Glenn Phillips 42, Mark Chapman 28, Daryl Mitchell 25 not out; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-31, Rashid Khan 1-36).
Result: New Zealand won by five wickets, with 13 balls remaining.
Man of the Match: Tim Seifert (New Zealand).
Umpires: Alex Wharf (England) and Langton Rusere (Zimbabwe); TV umpire: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa); reserve umpire: Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh); match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
