T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand made a winning start by defeating Afghanistan, these records were made

Updated: 08-02-2026, 09.02 AM

What is the news?

In the fourth match of the T20 World Cup 2026, the New Zealand cricket team made a winning start to its campaign by defeating the Afghanistan cricket team by 5 wickets. In this match played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Afghanistan, batting first, scored 182 runs at the loss of 6 wickets. In reply, the Kiwi team achieved the target by losing 5 wickets in 17.5 overs. Let’s take a look at the records made in the match.

Statement of account

New Zealand registered victory like this

Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first. His start was not good and he suffered 2 important blows till 44 runs. After that Gulbadin Naib (63) made partnerships with Siddiqullah Atal (29) and Darwish Rasooli (20) taking the score to 182. In reply, the Kiwi team suffered two initial setbacks, but after that Tim Seifert (65) scored a half-century, Glenn Phillips (42) and Mark Chapman (28) played brilliant innings and led the team to victory.

batting

Naib played his best innings

Naib batted brilliantly and scored a half-century for Afghanistan. This was the fourth half-century of his T20 international career and the first against the Kiwi team, which he completed in 29 balls. This was also his first half-century in the T20 World Cup. He was out after scoring 63 runs in 35 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes. He now has 1,056 runs in 81 matches at an average of 21.55.

Naib completed 1,000 T-20 international runs

Naib also achieved a special achievement during this innings. As soon as he scored the 7th run of the innings, he completed 1,000 runs in this format. He has become the 9th Afghan batsman to achieve this feat. He is now the 8th highest run scorer for Afghanistan in this format. During this innings he left behind Samiullah Shinwari (1,013). Most runs for Afghanistan are recorded in the name of Mohammad Nabi (2,440).

Afghanistan made its fourth highest score in T20 World Cup

The score of 182/6 made by Afghanistan in this match was their fourth highest score in the T20 World Cup. His highest score in the World Cup has been 190/4, which he made against South Korea in Sharjah in 2021. His other 2 big scores are 186/6 made against Zimbabwe cricket team at Nagpur in 2016 and 183/5 made against Georgia at Providence in 2024.

Seifert scored his first half-century against Afghanistan

Seifert batted brilliantly and scored a half-century for the Kiwi team. This was the 14th half-century of his T-20 international career and the first against the Afghan team, which he completed in 39 balls. This was also his first half-century in the T20 World Cup. He hit 7 fours and 3 sixes in 42 balls. He has now scored 2,018 runs in 77 innings of 82 matches at an average of 30.11 and strike rate of 143.83.

Seifert completes 2,000 T-20 international runs

As soon as Seifert scored his 47th run of this innings, he also completed 2,000 runs in this format. He has become the 5th Kiwi batsman to achieve this feat. The highest number of runs for New Zealand is recorded in the name of Martin Guptill (3,531). Seifert is the 5th fastest to complete 2,000 runs in terms of balls. He has achieved this feat in 1,395 balls. The record of fastest 2,000 runs is in the name of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav (1,164 balls).