Phillips and Ravindra partnership seals dominant victory for Kiwis
New Zealand has officially booked their spot in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Canada. While the match in Chennai will be remembered for a historic century by Canadian teenager Yuvraj Samra, it was the clinical batting display by the Black Caps that ultimately stole the show.
Samra’s Historic Knock
Batting first, Canada posted a competitive total of 173 for 4. The innings was anchored almost entirely by 19-year-old opener Yuvraj Samra. He played a stunning knock of 110 runs off just 65 balls. This performance etched his name in the record books, as he became the youngest player to cross the 50-run mark in a men’s T20 World Cup match. Furthermore, his 110 is now the highest score by a batter from an Associate nation against a Full Member team in the tournament's history.
Samra started cautiously against Matt Henry but shifted gears quickly. He took a particular liking to James Neesham, smashing him for boundaries around the ground. Even after the powerplay, Samra kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching his century and giving Canada hope of an upset.
Kiwis Respond with Firepower
Chasing 174, New Zealand faced an early scare. Canadian bowlers managed to dismiss openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen within the first four overs, creating a brief moment of tension in the Kiwi camp. However, that was the only success Canada would taste for the rest of the evening.
Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra joined forces to completely dismantle the Canadian attack. Phillips was the aggressor, blasting an unbeaten 76 off just 36 deliveries. Ravindra provided perfect support with a classy 59 not out off 39 balls.
Dominant Partnership
The duo stitched together a massive unbeaten partnership of 146 runs off just 73 balls. Their aggressive running and clean hitting ensured that the required run rate never became an issue. New Zealand chased down the target with remarkable ease, finishing the game with 4.5 overs to spare. This dominant win ensures New Zealand progresses to the next round, sending a strong warning to other teams in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Image Source: ESPN / ICC
