The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 delivered a high-quality contest that cricket fans had been waiting for. On 8 February 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, New Zealand successfully chased 183 to beat Afghanistan by five wickets with 13 balls remaining in the 4th Match of Group D.
This article breaks down the complete New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard with clear tables, analysis of key phases, turning points, player impact, and stats. All figures are taken from official match records.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Context and Previous Meetings
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team rivalry in T20Is has been limited but memorable. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, New Zealand chased down a modest target comfortably. In the 2024 T20 World Cup in Guyana, Afghanistan produced a dominant performance, bowling New Zealand out for 75 and winning by 84 runs.
This 2026 meeting was their first encounter since that heavy defeat and formed an important chapter in the list of New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Matches. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat on a Chepauk surface that offered early bounce and later grip for the slower bowlers. New Zealand were unchanged from their previous outing, while Afghanistan left out Noor Ahmad in favour of Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Nz vs Afg) |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai |
| Date | 8 February 2026 |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 (4th Match, Group D) |
| Toss | Afghanistan elected to bat |
| Afghanistan Score | 182/6 (20 overs) |
| New Zealand Score | 183/5 (17.5 overs) |
| Result | New Zealand won by 5 wickets (13 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Tim Seifert (NZ) – 65 (42) & 2 catches |
| Points | New Zealand 2, Afghanistan 0 |
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 27 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 122.72 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 63 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 180.00 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 29 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 120.83 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 20 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 153.84 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 200.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10* | 7 | 0 | 1 | 142.85 |
| Extras | 9 (lb 3, w 6) | ||||
| Total | 182/6 (20 overs, RR 9.10) |
Did not bat: Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Afghanistan started cautiously. After a solid powerplay platform of 44/2, Gulbadin Naib and Sediqullah Atal rebuilt with a 79-run partnership. Naib’s aggressive 63 off 35 balls, including four sixes, lifted the total past 180. Late cameos from Rasooli and Omarzai ensured a competitive score on a surface that was not entirely batting-friendly.
New Zealand Bowling Performance in the Nz vs Afg Match
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Jacob Duffy | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.00 |
| James Neesham | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 |
| Glenn Phillips | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 14.00 |
Lockie Ferguson’s two wickets in the sixth over (Zadran and Gurbaz) were crucial in restricting the early momentum. Mitchell Santner was the most economical, while Matt Henry’s late strike and Duffy’s slower-ball dismissal of Atal helped keep Afghanistan to a chaseable total. The middle overs saw some leakage, particularly from Neesham, but the death bowling was tight enough.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert (wk) | 65 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 154.76 |
| Finn Allen | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Glenn Phillips | 42 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 168.00 |
| Mark Chapman | 28 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 164.70 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 25* | 14 | 1 | 1 | 178.57 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 17* | 8 | 2 | 1 | 212.50 |
| Extras | 5 (nb 2, w 3) | ||||
| Total | 183/5 (17.5 overs, RR 10.26) |
Did not bat: James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
New Zealand’s chase began disastrously. Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two wickets in consecutive balls in the second over, removing Allen and Ravindra. From 14/2, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips produced a decisive 74-run partnership. Seifert’s controlled aggression and Phillips’ clean striking against spin shifted the momentum permanently. Mitchell and Santner finished the job calmly.
Afghanistan Bowling Stats
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 3.5 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.43 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Ziaur Rahman | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 18.00 |
Mujeeb’s early double-strike was Afghanistan’s best moment. Rashid Khan eventually dismissed Phillips but was expensive in his first spell. Once Seifert and Phillips settled, Afghanistan struggled to create sustained pressure. Nabi’s wicket of Seifert came too late to change the outcome.
Nz vs Afg – Fall Of Wickets
Afghanistan Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter Out | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | Ibrahim Zadran | 5.1 |
| 2 | 44 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 5.6 |
| 3 | 123 | Sediqullah Atal | 14.3 |
| 4 | 156 | Gulbadin Naib | 17.2 |
| 5 | 164 | Darwish Rasooli | 18.1 |
| 6 | 182 | Azmatullah Omarzai | 19.6 |
New Zealand Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter Out | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Finn Allen | 1.3 |
| 2 | 14 | Rachin Ravindra | 1.4 |
| 3 | 88 | Glenn Phillips | 9.2 |
| 4 | 124 | Tim Seifert | 12.5 |
| 5 | 155 | Mark Chapman | 15.4 |
Power play and death over stats
Powerplay Stats (Overs 1–6)
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 44 | 2 | 7.33 |
| New Zealand | 52 | 2 | 8.67 |
- Afghanistan lost both openers (Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz) in the Powerplay, largely due to Lockie Ferguson’s two wickets.
- New Zealand also lost two early wickets (Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra to Mujeeb Ur Rahman) but scored 8 more runs than Afghanistan, with Tim Seifert contributing the bulk of the runs.
Death Overs Stats (Overs 16–20)
Afghanistan (Death Overs – Overs 16 to 20)
| Overs | Runs Scored | Wickets Lost | Score at End of Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 5 | 0 | 135/3 |
| 17 | 15 | 0 | 150/3 |
| 18 | 14 | 1 | 164/4 |
| 19 | 9 | 1 | 173/5 |
| 20 | 9 | 1 | 182/6 |
- Total in Death Overs (16–20): 52 runs, 3 wickets
- Afghanistan scored at a healthy rate in the death but lost three wickets (Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, and Azmatullah Omarzai).
New Zealand (Death Overs – Overs 15 to 17.5)
New Zealand finished the chase in 17.5 overs, so their “death overs” were shorter.
| Phase | Runs | Wickets | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overs 15–17.5 | 47 | 1 | From 136/4 (end of 14) to 183/5 |
- New Zealand needed only 47 more runs after 14 overs and completed the chase comfortably with 13 balls remaining.
- Mark Chapman fell in the 16th over, after which Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner finished the job efficiently.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Players
| New Zealand Players | Role | Afghanistan Players | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Allen | Batter | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Tim Seifert (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Ibrahim Zadran | Batter |
| Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder | Sediqullah Atal | Batter |
| Glenn Phillips | Batter | Gulbadin Naib | All-rounder |
| Mark Chapman | Batter | Darwish Rasooli | Batter |
| Daryl Mitchell | All-rounder | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | All-rounder / Captain | Mohammad Nabi | All-rounder |
| James Neesham | All-rounder | Rashid Khan (c) | Bowler / Captain |
| Matt Henry | Bowler | Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Bowler |
| Lockie Ferguson | Bowler | Ziaur Rahman | Bowler |
| Jacob Duffy | Bowler | Fazalhaq Farooqi | Bowler |
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Highlights
| Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Batter | Tim Seifert (65 off 42) |
| Best Bowler | Lockie Ferguson (2/40) & Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/31) |
| Best Partnership | Seifert & Phillips (74 runs for 3rd wicket) |
| Key Moment | Mujeeb’s back-to-back wickets reducing NZ to 14/2 |
| Turning Point | Seifert-Phillips recovery and attack on Rashid |
| Best Bowling Spell | Ferguson’s first over (2 wickets) |
| Best Batting Performance | Gulbadin Naib (63 off 35) |
| Final Result | NZ won by 5 wickets |
Early Wickets and Afghanistan’s Recovery
Ferguson’s double-strike left Afghanistan 44/2 after the powerplay. Naib’s counter-attack, featuring four sixes, and his partnership with Atal rebuilt the innings effectively.
Mujeeb’s Double Strike
In the second over of the chase, Mujeeb bowled Allen and Ravindra in consecutive deliveries. New Zealand were 14/2 and under serious pressure.
Seifert-Phillips Partnership
The pair added 74 runs at a rapid rate. Phillips took on Rashid Khan early, and Seifert played a mature yet aggressive knock that stabilised and then accelerated the chase.
Calm Finish
After Seifert and Chapman fell, Mitchell and Santner required only 28 more runs and finished the job with 13 balls to spare.
Turning Points in the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match
- Ferguson’s two wickets in the sixth over – Removed both openers and forced Afghanistan to rebuild.
- Mujeeb’s consecutive dismissals – Reduced New Zealand to 14/2 and created genuine hope for Afghanistan.
- Seifert and Phillips’ response – Their aggressive partnership, especially the attack on Rashid, shifted momentum permanently and made the target look achievable.
- Seifert’s half-century – Anchored the innings and ensured New Zealand never lost control after the early setbacks.
Top Players Performance in Nz vs Afg
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert | NZ | Batter/WK | 65 (42), 2 catches |
| Gulbadin Naib | AFG | Batter | 63 (35) |
| Glenn Phillips | NZ | Batter | 42 (25) |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | AFG | Bowler | 2/31 (4) |
| Lockie Ferguson | NZ | Bowler | 2/40 (4) |
Tim Seifert – Match-Winning Knock
Seifert absorbed the early pressure and then accelerated. His 65 off 42 balls, combined with two catches, earned him Player of the Match. He controlled the powerplay and set the platform for the successful chase.
Gulbadin Naib – Explosive Half-Century
Naib’s career-best T20I score of 63 off 35 balls was the backbone of Afghanistan’s total. His intent after a slow start lifted the innings significantly.
Glenn Phillips – Crucial Support
Phillips’ 42 off 25, including a strong assault on Rashid, formed the partnership that broke Afghanistan’s grip.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman – Early Threat
His two wickets in consecutive balls gave Afghanistan a real chance, but the rest of the attack could not capitalise.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Tournament Overview
This was New Zealand’s opening match in Group D. The two points gave them an early advantage in a tough group that also included South Africa, UAE and Canada. Afghanistan’s loss put them under pressure early. Both teams still had matches remaining against the other Group D sides. New Zealand later finished the group stage with three wins from four matches.
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is) – Nz vs Afg
| Format | Matches | New Zealand Won | Afghanistan Won | Tied/NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
(Completed matches; earlier encounters included one abandoned game in some records.) New Zealand lead the overall T20I head-to-head after this victory in the latest of the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Matches.
Why New Zealand Won the Nz vs Afg Contest
- Strong recovery batting – Seifert and Phillips rebuilt and then accelerated after the early collapse.
- Better handling of spin – New Zealand’s batters took on Rashid and Mujeeb more effectively than Afghanistan expected.
- Disciplined death bowling – New Zealand restricted Afghanistan in the final overs.
- Calm finishing – Mitchell and Santner closed the chase without panic.
- Fielding support – Seifert’s two catches and overall discipline helped.
Importance of the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match
For New Zealand, the win provided an ideal start in a competitive group and boosted confidence after the 2024 defeat to Afghanistan. For Afghanistan, the loss highlighted the need for greater consistency against top sides despite Naib’s excellent knock and Mujeeb’s early breakthrough. The result gave New Zealand early control of their Group D destiny.
Conclusion
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from 8 February 2026 shows a classic T20 contest of early drama and controlled recovery. Tim Seifert’s Player-of-the-Match performance, supported by Glenn Phillips, guided New Zealand to a five-wicket victory with balls to spare after Afghanistan posted a competitive 182/6.
Gulbadin Naib’s 63 and Mujeeb’s double-strike kept Afghanistan in the game for long periods, but New Zealand’s depth and composure ultimately prevailed. This result set an early tone in Group D of the 2026 T20 World Cup and gave New Zealand fans plenty of reasons for optimism. Fans looking for the full New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, player analysis, and Nz vs Afg stats will find this contest remembered for Seifert’s calm leadership under pressure and the quality of the chase.
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FAQs on New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
1. Where can I check the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard?
The full official scorecard is available on ESPNcricinfo and the ICC website under the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 section.
2. Who was the top scorer in the Nz vs Afg match?
Tim Seifert scored the highest individual total with 65 off 42 balls for New Zealand. Gulbadin Naib made 63 for Afghanistan.
3. Who took the most wickets among the Nz vs Afg Team Players?
Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan) both took two wickets each.
4. What was the final result of the Nz vs Afg match?
New Zealand won by 5 wickets with 13 balls remaining.
5. Where was the match played?
MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai, on 8 February 2026.
6. Who was Player of the Match?
Tim Seifert (New Zealand) for his 65 off 42 and two catches.
