T20 World Cup: England edge New Zealand by four wickets in Super 8 thriller

In a thrilling Super 8 Group 2 encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, England completed a dramatic four-wicket win over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing a target of 160, England fought back from a precarious position late in their innings to clinch victory with three balls to spare, boosting their standing in the Super 8 stage.

New Zealand, opting to bat first, posted a competitive 159/7 in their 20 overs. The Kiwi innings was anchored by Glenn Phillips, who scored 39 off 28 balls, and Tim Seifert, with 35 off 25. Despite these contributions, New Zealand lacked the big partnerships needed to push the score beyond the 170 mark. Their bowling attack kept England under pressure early in the chase. England’s chase saw early setbacks as they slipped to 117/6 at one stage, but a remarkable late-innings stand turned the match in their favour. Will Jacks played a match-winning innings, scoring 32 off 18, while debutant Rehan Ahmed excelled under pressure with 19 not out off 7. Their partnership steadied the innings and ultimately sealed the victory for England.

New Zealand’s bowling effort was led by Rachin Ravindra, who claimed key wickets with figures of 3/19, but it wasn’t enough to prevent England’s late charge. England now sit atop Super 8 Group 2, strengthening their semi-final hopes as the tournament moves into its decisive stages.