Who won the T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand on February 8, 2026?

New Zealand won the match by five wickets.

What was Afghanistan's total score against New Zealand?

Afghanistan scored 182 for six in their 20 overs.

Who were the key players for New Zealand in their chase?

Tim Seifert scored 65 runs and Glenn Phillips contributed 42 runs to New Zealand's successful chase.

Home / Sports / Seifert, Phillips Lead NZ to Victory Over Afghanistan

Seifert, Phillips Lead NZ to Victory Over Afghanistan

8 Feb

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Summary

New Zealand chased down 183 with 13 balls to spare.
Tim Seifert scored 65 and Glenn Phillips added 42.
Gulbadin Naib's 63 was the highlight for Afghanistan.

Seifert, Phillips Lead NZ to Victory Over Afghanistan

New Zealand commenced their 2026 T20 World Cup journey with a hard-fought five-wicket win against Afghanistan on Sunday at the MAC Stadium. Afghanistan, after opting to bat first, set a target of 183 runs, with Gulbadin Naib being the standout performer, smashing 63 runs from just 35 balls, including four sixes.

Despite losing two early wickets in the chase, New Zealand found stability through a crucial 74-run partnership. Tim Seifert anchored the innings with a brilliant 65, while Glenn Phillips provided crucial support with a rapid 42. Their counterattacking efforts laid the foundation for New Zealand to comfortably overhaul the target with 13 balls to spare.

Afghanistan's innings saw a cautious start in the initial overs, but Naib accelerated significantly after the halfway mark. His aggressive batting, particularly against part-time bowlers, helped push the score towards a competitive total. However, it proved to be insufficient against New Zealand's determined batting lineup.