In a nail-biting Super 8 clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, England pulled off a stunning 4-wicket victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing a target of 160, the English side weathered early storms to clinch the game in 19.3 overs, losing just six wickets.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner was gracious in defeat, hailing England’s performance. ‘They played brilliantly, and the credit for the win goes to them,’ he said after the match. At one point, New Zealand looked firmly in control, especially after England slumped to 117 for 6. But Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed scripted a dramatic turnaround with an unbroken 44-run stand off just 16 balls.
Jacks smashed 32 off 18 deliveries, while Ahmed remained not out on 19 from 7 balls, turning the tide in the 18th over where Jacks plundered 22 runs off Glenn Phillips. Santner acknowledged the shift: ‘It was a good, tough game. The way England chased and Jacks and Ahmed batted at the end was outstanding.’
New Zealand posted 159 for 7 in their 20 overs, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring on 39 and Tim Seifert adding 35. Adil Rashid and Will Jacks claimed two wickets each for England. Santner reflected that his batters failed to capitalize in the death overs, suggesting 170-175 might have been a safer total. He also praised Ahmed’s handling of spin on this pitch.
A win here would have handed New Zealand a direct semi-final spot, easing their path. Instead, Santner’s honest assessment underscores England’s resilience in high-pressure scenarios, setting the stage for an intense Super 8 battle.