Two time champions England kept their semi final hopes alive with a dramatic four wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium on Friday. The high pressure Super Eights clash delivered excitement until the final overs, with England chasing down the target in style.
After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner chose to bat first, but the decision did not produce the desired outcome. The Black Caps managed 159 for 7 in their 20 overs against a disciplined and spin heavy England bowling attack. Glenn Phillips top scored with a brisk 39 off 28 balls, while Tim Seifert made 35 and Finn Allen added 29 at the top.
For England, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed claimed two wickets each, while Liam Dawson contributed one, restricting New Zealand from posting a bigger total.
Chasing 160, England faced some tense moments but held their nerve. The turning point came through an unbeaten 44 run partnership for the seventh wicket between Jacks and Rehan. Jacks remained not out on 32 from just 18 deliveries, smashing boundaries at crucial moments. Rehan’s explosive 19 off seven balls, featuring two towering sixes, sealed the match with three balls to spare.
Rachin Ravindra impressed with the ball for New Zealand, picking up three wickets for just 19 runs, while Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Phillips grabbed one each.
This crucial result boosts England’s position in Group 2 and keeps Pakistan’s qualification hopes alive ahead of their decisive clash against Sri Lanka national cricket team.
