Colombo: In a pulse-pounding Super 8 encounter at the Premadasa Stadium, England outclassed New Zealand by four wickets to secure their spot in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
Chasing a modest 160, the English side overcame a mid-innings wobble, thanks to a heroic unbeaten stand between Will Jacks and debutant Rehan Ahmed, who turned the game on its head in the death overs.
New Zealand, opting to bat first on a sluggish pitch, posted 159/7. Openers Finn Allen (29) and Tim Seifert (35) provided a brisk start, but England’s spinners struck hard. Adil Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed each claimed two wickets, triggering a collapse that saw the Kiwis lose momentum after Glenn Phillips’ fighting 39. Rachin Ravindra shone with the ball for New Zealand, snaring 3/19, but it wasn’t enough to defend the total.
England’s reply started shakily, with both openers dismissed cheaply. Harry Brook (26) and Jacob Bethell (21) steadied the innings, but at 117/6, needing 43 off the final three overs, defeat was imminent. Enter Jacks (32 not out) and Ahmed (19 not out). Jacks & Ahmed smashed 22 runs in the 18th over, and together they plundered the required runs in just 9 more balls, sealing victory in 19.3 overs.
This triumph propels England to the top of Group 2 with three wins, setting up a semifinal clash in Mumbai on February 5. For New Zealand, now with three points, qualification hangs by a thread — they must hope Sri Lanka beats Pakistan tomorrow or rely on net run rate (NZ: +1.390, PAK: -0.461). Pakistan, meanwhile, finds renewed life, with their fate in their hands.
England’s resilience under pressure has lit up the tournament, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.