New Zealand vs Afghanistan Highlights T20 World Cup: Tim Seifert and NZ batters blaze to big win with brutal firepower

New Zealand vs Afghanistan Live Score: Lockie Ferguson runs riot here and ends his first over with the wicket too and sends the other opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz back to the hut. His pace is too much to handle for the Afghans here as both openers are back in the hut. AFG 44/2 in 6 overs

New Zealand vs Afghanistan Live Score: Lockie Ferguson on fire as he gets the big wicket of Ibrahim Zadran on the first ball of his spell for just 10. A big wicket for New Zealand as the dot ball pressure was mounting on him with every over. The powerplay is not working out well for the Afghans. AFG 35/1 in 5.1 overs

New Zealand vs Afghanistan Live Score: Ibrahim Zadran joins the party and hits Matt Henry for a four on the first ball of the boundary, but he is still looking under some sort of pressure here, with the strike rate below 100 at the moment. AFG 35/0 in 5 overs

New Zealand vs Afghanistan Live Score: Rahmanullah Gurbaz finally breaks shackles and smashes Jacob Duffy for a six, and he follows it up with a four to make his intentions clear. The Afghans needed that push. 11 runs came off the over. AFG 26/0 in 4 overs

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Jacob Duffy also kept things tight from the other end, giving away just four runs. The Afghan openers' strike rates are below 100, which is definitely not a good sign for them in the powerplay after two overs. AFG 10/0 in 2 overs

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Six runs came off the first over by Matt Henry here. A tidy start with the ball for New Zealand. Gurbaz attempted a couple of aerial shots but misfired, while Zadran is yet to open his account. AFG 6/0 in 1 over

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are in the middle. Matt Henry has the ball in hand to start the proceedings.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: The players of both teams Afghanistan and New Zealand are in the middle for the national anthems of their respective nations.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: New Zealand Playing XI - Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan Playing XI - Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan wins the toss and opts to bat against New Zealand in Chennai.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Michael Bracewell’s timely return to full fitness is a major boost for New Zealand ahead of the World Cup, offering greater balance to the XI. His presence not only strengthens the lower-middle order with added batting depth but also provides the side with a valuable spin-bowling option, giving the team management more flexibility while shaping their combinations for crucial matches.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Rashid Khan remains the heartbeat of Afghanistan’s plans, with his influence set to shape both their leadership on the field and their cutting edge with the ball. As the side’s main wicket-taking threat, much will depend on how effectively he controls the middle overs and breaks key partnerships. However, Afghanistan’s success won’t rest on him alone — strong backing from fellow spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad will be vital to sustain pressure, share the workload and ensure the attack remains potent across all phases of the innings.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan Playing XI - Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad and Naveen Ul Haq.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: New Zealand Probable Playing XI - Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of their T20 World Cup opener, Mitchell Santner admitted New Zealand struggled to rein in India’s attacking top order during the early overs. The skipper pointed out that explosive powerplay starts are fast becoming the blueprint for teams in the tournament, making it crucial for bowlers to find ways to slow momentum right from the outset.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan put together an impressive campaign, opening their tournament with dominant group-stage performances, highlighted by a 125-run win over Uganda and a stunning 84-run triumph against New Zealand, among their most memorable T20 results. They maintained that momentum in the Super Eights, registering a notable 21-run victory over Australia to book a historic semifinal berth. Their remarkable run, however, came to a halt in the knockout stage, where South Africa bowled them out for 56, the lowest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup semifinal, bringing an abrupt end to an otherwise outstanding journey.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan enjoyed a memorable run to the semi-finals two years ago, knocking over the likes of New Zealand, West Indies, Australia and Bangladesh along the way. This edition, however, presents a tougher road, with the side placed in a challenging Group D alongside South Africa, Canada and the UAE. With only two teams advancing to the Super Eights, there will be little margin for error from the outset, making every group-stage game crucial to their chances of another deep run.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan enjoyed a memorable run to the semi-finals two years ago, knocking over the likes of New Zealand, West Indies, Australia and Bangladesh along the way. This edition, however, presents a tougher road, with the side placed in a challenging Group D alongside South Africa, Canada and the UAE. With only two teams advancing to the Super Eights, there will be little margin for error from the outset, making every group-stage game crucial to their chances of another deep run.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan’s batting strength lies in a solid top order capable of setting the tone early, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s attacking intent and Ibrahim Zadran’s composure forming a strong opening combination. The reliable Sediqullah Atal adds further stability and has the ability to anchor or accelerate depending on the situation. Together, they bring a blend of power and technique that can trouble even the most disciplined bowling attacks. If they find rhythm, Afghanistan have the firepower to put opponents under serious pressure, setting up a contest that promises plenty of intensity and engaging battles across phases of the game.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan head into the tournament brimming with confidence after a dominant bilateral series win over the West Indies last week, underlining their growing stature in the T20 format. Their biggest strength lies in the depth of their playing XI, packed with versatile cricketers capable of turning a game on its head on any given day. Leading the charge is Rashid Khan, whose influence remains immense despite batters becoming more familiar with his variations over the years. While the element of surprise may not be as strong as before, his fierce competitiveness, control and knack for breakthroughs continue to make him one of the most dangerous bowlers in T20 cricket.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan Squad - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: New Zealand head into the T20 World Cup with a few concerns after a difficult build-up that exposed gaps in both their batting depth and bowling consistency. A heavy 1-4 defeat to India dented their momentum and forced the team management to rethink combinations and strategies ahead of the global event. With confidence slightly shaken, the Kiwis will be eager to rediscover rhythm quickly and avoid a sluggish start against strong early opponents.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: New Zealand Squad - Mitchell Santner(c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Hello and welcome to our live blog of T20 World Cup match between New Zealand and Afghanistan from Chennai.