The T20 World Cup 2026 Group D stage delivered high drama, but New Zealand emerged unscathed, qualifying for Super 8s with an eight-wicket demolition of Canada at Chennai’s iconic Chepauk. Three group wins from four matches solidified their spot beside South Africa, shrugging off that solitary loss.
Canada’s decision to bat first yielded 173 for four, powered by Yuvraj Sharma’s century—110 off 65 balls—in a 116-run opener’s alliance with captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s 36 (39 balls). New Zealand’s response was measured: wickets shared by Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, and James Neesham ensured no late surge.
Needing 174, the Kiwis lost Tim Seifert cheaply (6 off 10 to Saad Bin Zafar) and Finn Allen (21 off 8), teetering at 30 for two. Rachin Ravindra steadied with 59 (39 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes), but Glenn Phillips exploded for 76 off 36 (four fours, six sixes), cantering to victory in 15.1 overs.
Canada laments a third successive defeat ahead of their Afghanistan showdown. New Zealand’s blend of grit and aggression positions them as Super 8 frontrunners, where the real test of T20 supremacy begins.