Colombo, Feb 27 (UNI) Spinners shared six wickets as England restricted New Zealand to 159 for seven in the Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.
After New Zealand opted to bat, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen provided a blazing start, propelling the side to 54 in the powerplay.
Allen dispatched Jofra Archer’s slower ball over mid-on and lofted Liam Dawson down the ground, while Seifert mixed innovation with power, including a flat-batted slap over cover and a fierce pull into the stands. The pair added 64 in 6.6 overs to seize early control.
England’s spin trio then flipped the script. Adil Rashid struck first, slowing it through the air to lure Seifert out for a stumping on 35.
Will Jacks followed up by removing Allen for 29 with a tossed-up delivery that resulted in a soft catch at deep midwicket. Rehan made an immediate impact, claiming Rachin Ravindra with a googly that held in the surface and induced a miscue.
Glenn Phillips counterpunched with authority, smashing Rashid for a no-look six and punishing anything overpitched. However, Jacks delivered a decisive moment in the 17th over, bowling Phillips for 39 with a loopy, well-flighted delivery that beat his attempted slog across the line.
Mark Chapman briefly accelerated with two crisp boundaries off Dawson but was undone by Rashid’s dip and turn, stumped for 15. Daryl Mitchell struggled to find rhythm and holed out to long-off against Dawson as New Zealand endured a period of just 10 runs in 16 balls.
The closing overs added late drama. Cole McConchie capitalised on a dropped chance at long-on to collect a boundary but was bowled two balls later by Rehan as the leg-break spun past his wild swing to disturb the stumps.
In the final over, skipper Mitchell Santner launched Rehan for a towering off-drive over the ropes yet showed visible frustration, aware that better shot selection earlier could have lifted the total beyond 160.
New Zealand finished on 159/7 at a run rate of 7.95. Jacks (2/23), Rashid (2/28) and Rehan (2/28) were the chief architects of England’s fightback, ensuring the target remained within reach.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 39, Tim Seifert 35, Finn Allen 29; Will Jacks 2/23, Adil Rashid 2/28, Rehan Ahmed 2/28) vs England.
