T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 4 – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

New Zealand sealed a comfortable victory over Afghanistan in Match 4 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Chennai in a high-scoring contest.

Batting first, Afghanistan put up an impressive 182/6, built around a fluent 63 off 35 from Gulbadin Naib. He was well supported by late contributions from Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Darwish Rasooli, as Afghanistan finished strongly despite disciplined spells from New Zealand’s bowlers. Mitchell Santner was the standout, conceding just 23 runs in his four overs, while Matt Henry chipped in with figures of 1/27.

New Zealand’s chase began explosively before a double strike from Mujeeb Ur Rahman briefly jolted their momentum. However, a composed partnership between Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips steadied the innings and put the chase back on track. The pair rotated strike effectively before shifting gears, neutralising Afghanistan’s spin threat and keeping the required rate under control.

The finishing touches were applied by Daryl Mitchell and Santner, who added valuable late runs to close out the chase. Mitchell struck a quick 25 off 14, while Santner contributed 28 off 17, as New Zealand exposed Afghanistan’s struggles with pace. Rashid Khan endured an expensive outing, conceding 36, and despite Mujeeb’s control, New Zealand crossed the line with five wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare.

Top batting performance of the match: Tim Seifert 

Tim Seifert was the standout batter for New Zealand, producing a composed yet aggressive 65 off 42 deliveries to anchor the chase. He set the tone early by smashing 12 runs in the opening over but was forced to take on added responsibility after early wickets fell. Seifert paced his innings smartly, rotating strike through the middle overs while punishing loose deliveries. He remained in complete control before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi, by which time New Zealand were firmly in command. His knock included three sixes and seven fours, making him the key figure in tilting the match decisively in New Zealand’s favour.

Top bowling performance of the match: Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson was the standout bowler for New Zealand, ensuring Afghanistan’s batters were kept in check. The pacer was slightly expensive, conceding 40 runs in his four overs. However, he picked two crucial wickets in the powerplay, dismissing both the openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadra, in the same over to put Afghanistan on the backfoot before they were bailed out by Gulbadin’s half-century.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• New Zealand registered their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.
• Tim Seifert became the fifth-fastest player to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced.
• Seifert also became the fifth New Zealand batter to cross 2,000 runs in T20 internationals.
• Afghanistan’s total of 182/6 stands as their fourth-highest team score in T20 World Cup history.
• Gulbadin Naib’s 63 runs is the second-highest individual score for Afghanistan in a T20 World Cup match while batting at No. 3 or lower.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Tim Seifert was adjudged Player of the Match for his superb 65 off 42 deliveries, an innings that featured three sixes and seven fours. Walking in after early wickets, Seifert ensured the pressure never mounted on New Zealand by backing his natural attacking game. He paced the chase intelligently, picking his bowlers carefully and choosing the right moments to accelerate. His composure and shot selection kept New Zealand firmly on the front foot and played a decisive role in steering the side to victory.

When is the next match?

New Zealand will face the UAE on February 10 in Chennai, as they look to build on their strong start. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will take on South Africa on February 11 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, in what promises to be a high-profile encounter.