In a spectacular display of power-hitting and calculated aggression, New Zealand scripted a new chapter in their T20 World Cup history by successfully chasing down Afghanistan’s formidable total of 182-6 with five wickets and 13 balls to spare in Chennai on Sunday.
Opener Tim Seifert emerged as the undisputed hero of the match, delivering a masterclass in controlled aggression with his 65 runs off just 42 deliveries. His explosive performance, complemented by Glenn Phillips’ crucial 42-run contribution, propelled the Black Caps to their highest-ever run chase in T20 World Cup history, surpassing their previous best of 167 against England in the 2021 semi-final.
The chase encountered early turbulence when Afghanistan’s spin wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck twice in consecutive deliveries during the second over, dismissing Finn Allen (1) and Rachin Ravindra (0) to put New Zealand under immediate pressure. However, the match turned decisively when Seifert and Phillips forged a resilient 74-run partnership for the third wicket, systematically dismantling Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan provided a moment of breakthrough when he dismissed Phillips, who inside-edged onto his stumps, but not before the damage had been done. Seifert received a crucial reprieve when Rashid dropped him on 48 off his own bowling, a missed opportunity that proved costly for Afghanistan.
The New Zealand opener reached his half-century in spectacular fashion, launching veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi for a massive six. Though Nabi eventually claimed Seifert’s wicket when the batsman top-edged to the deep, the foundation for victory had been firmly established. Mark Chapman contributed a quickfire 28 off 17 balls before Daryl Mitchell (25*) and skipper Mitchell Santner (17*) guided the team across the finish line.
Earlier, Afghanistan had posted a competitive total thanks to Gulbadin Naib’s explosive 63 off 35 balls after early setbacks had reduced them to 44-2. Naib combined with Sediqullah Atal (29) in a 79-run third-wicket partnership that seemed to set the stage for an Afghan victory until New Zealand’s record-breaking response.
Post-match, player of the match Seifert remarked: ‘It’s always nice to start the tournament with a few runs under your belt, but the main thing is we got the win. Tough conditions as well out there. Lost a couple of early wickets, so it’s nice to get the job done.’
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan acknowledged his team’s bowling deficiencies: ‘We haven’t landed the ball in the right areas. If we had bowled into the wicket and good length it was difficult to score. We need to improve in certain areas.’