England continued their unbeaten streak in the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with an exciting four-wicket win against New Zealand in Colombo on Friday. This result places New Zealand in a precarious position as they await the outcome of their semi-final fate.
Having already secured a spot in the semi-finals, England demonstrated their strength and composure by chasing down a target of 160 runs. After a shaky start at 58 for 4, they successfully completed the run chase in 19.3 overs.
Will Jacks was the standout performer of the match, delivering an impressive all-round display. He took 2 wickets for 23 runs and played a crucial role in the chase, remaining unbeaten with a score of 32 runs from 18 balls, including four boundaries and a six.
New Zealand’s loss means they are not yet confirmed for the semi-finals, with their progression now reliant on the results from Saturday’s Group 2 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In the first innings, England’s spinners were dominant after being asked to bowl first, limiting New Zealand to 159 runs for 7 wickets. England bowled an unprecedented 16 overs of spin for the match, with every New Zealand batter succumbing to the slower bowlers.
Adil Rashid set a strong tone with an early wicket, finishing with figures of 2 for 28. Jacks also excelled with the ball, while debutant leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed made an impactful start to his World Cup journey, claiming his first wicket with his very first delivery and ending with 2 for 28. Liam Dawson contributed with the wicket of Daryl Mitchell.
New Zealand initially got off to a promising start, with openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert pushing the score to 54 runs without loss in just six overs. Glenn Phillips was the standout performer for New Zealand, scoring 39 runs off 28 balls and forming beneficial partnerships with Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman amidst falling wickets.
In response, England struggled early as Matt Henry dismissed Phil Salt on the first ball of his opening over, followed by Jos Buttler’s continued difficulties, leaving England in a challenging position at 2 for 2 within two overs.
Harry Brook played a counter-attacking innings, including a remarkable scooped six, and briefly steadied the ship alongside Jacob Bethell with a 48-run partnership. However, Glenn Phillips shifted the momentum back for New Zealand by taking two crucial catches, reducing England to 58 for 4.
Despite the early setbacks, England’s middle and lower order players stepped up. Tom Banton scored 33 runs and Sam Curran added 24 runs, building a solid foundation. Jacks turned the tide in England’s favor with a remarkable 22-run over off Phillips during the 18th over, while Rehan Ahmed added a valuable contribution of 19 runs from just seven balls.
In summary, New Zealand ended their innings at 159 for 7 in 20 overs, with Phillips leading the scoring with 39 runs, and Jacks emerging as a key player with 2 wickets. England chased down the target with 161 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 19.3 overs, with Banton scoring 33 and Jacks finishing with 32 not out. England won the match by four wickets.