Chennai: New Zealand defeated Canada by eight wickets in a crucial match of the T20 World Cup and qualified for the Super Eights. Glenn Phillips’ fiery half-century and Rachin Ravindra’s mature batting gave the Kiwis an easy victory. With this, New Zealand became the second team from Group D to reach the Super Eights after South Africa.
Canada’s fight; Yuvraj Samra makes history
Batting first, Canada scored a good score of 173 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs. The remarkable achievement of the innings was the century of Canada’s 19-year-old opener Yuvraj Samra. Yuvraj, who scored 110 runs off 65 balls, also held the record of becoming the youngest player to score a century in the history of the T20 World Cup. Captain Dilpreet Bajwa (36) provided good support to Yuvraj.
Phillips’ record pace, Rach’s strength
Chasing a target of 174 runs to win, New Zealand lost openers Finn Allen (21) and Tim Seifert (6) early on. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, who joined hands for the third wicket, guided the Kiwis to victory after they were struggling at 30-2 in 3.1 overs.
- Glenn Phillips: Phillips, who reached his half-century in just 22 balls, set a record for the fastest half-century by a New Zealand player in the T20 World Cup. He remained unbeaten on 76 runs off 36 balls (6 sixes, 4 fours).
- Rachin Ravindra: Batting cautiously at one end, Rachin remained unbeaten on 59 off 39 balls.An unbeaten partnership of 146 runs between the two helped New Zealand reach the target in just 15.1 overs.
Points table
With this win, New Zealand finished the group stage with 6 points from 4 matches. Afghanistan was eliminated from the tournament with New Zealand’s win. South Africa and New Zealand advanced to the next stage from Group D.
Match scorecard:
- Match result: New Zealand won by 8 wickets
- Canada innings: 173/4 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Performance | Runs | Ball |
| Yuvraj Samra | Not out | 110 | 65 |
| Dilpreet Bajwa | C. Seifert B. Santner | 36 | 28 |
| Others | – | 27 | – |
New Zealand Bowling:
- Mitchell Santner: 4-0-28-2
- Lockie Ferguson: 4-0-32-1
- New Zealand Innings: 176/2 (15.1 overs)
| Batsman | Performance | Runs | Ball |
| Glenn Phillips | Not Out | 76 | 36 |
| Rachin Ravindra | Not Out | 59 | 39 |
| Finn Allen | C. Kareem B. Haider | 21 | 11 |
| Tim Seifert | B. Kaleem Sana | 6 | 5 |
Canada Bowling:
- Kaleem Sana: 3-0-35-1
- Amar Khalid: 3.1-0-42-0
Man of the Match: Yuvraj Samra (Canada) – For scoring a record century even in defeat.
Super clash: India and New Zealand face off!
The much-awaited match in Group 2 of the Super Eights will be held in Antigua on June 21. The battle between the Kiwis, who defeated Canada in the group stage, and Team India, who are advancing undefeated, will be decisive in determining the semi-final chances.
Team India’s strength:
The Indian batting line-up, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is in great form. Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive batting and Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance are giving India the edge. The bowling line led by Jasprit Bumrah is capable of destroying any batting line-up.
New Zealand’s trump cards:
The Kiwis’ main strength is Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, who performed a record-breaking performance against Canada. Rachin’s ability to deal with spinners in the middle overs and Phillips’ hitting power in the death overs will be a challenge for India. Trent Boult’s swing in the early overs will be a test for the Indian openers.
Head-to-head battle
New Zealand has a history of often giving India a tough challenge in ICC tournaments. But in their current form, India has a slight advantage.
| Team️ | Team India | New Zealand |
| Form | 5 wins in 5 matches | 3 wins in 4 matches |
| Key player | Virat Kohli | Glenn Phillips |
| Bowling Strength | Jasprit Bumrah | Trent Boult |
Prediction: Who will win?
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will be crucial for India as the pitch in Antigua favors spin. However, the Kiwis cannot be underestimated, as they are not afraid of pressure. We can expect a thrilling match!
What is your prediction for this match? Write it in the comment box!
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