NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup: Phillips and Seifert Lead Heroic Fightback After Mujeeb’s Early Destruction
Abhishek 
The 4th match of the T20 World Cup between NZ vs AFG, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has turned into an absolute roller-coaster. Afghanistan, buoyed by a brilliant batting performance, now finds itself defending against a fearless New Zealand middle order that refuses to back down.
NZ vs AFG: Afghanistan’s Power Surge: 182/6
Opting to bat, Afghanistan posted a daunting 182/6. The star of the show was Gulbadin Naib, who smashed a sensational 63 off 35 balls, including 4 massive sixes.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided a solid start with 27 off 22.
- Lockie Ferguson was the standout bowler for NZ, taking 2/40.
- Mitchell Santner proved his worth at Chepauk, conceding only 23 runs in his 4 overs.
The Chase: From 14/2 to 87/2
The Kiwi chase started in catastrophic fashion. Mujeeb Ur Rahman silenced the crowd by removing Finn Allen (1) and Rachin Ravindra (0) in back-to-back deliveries, leaving NZ reeling at 14/2 after just 1.4 overs.
Just when it looked like Afghanistan would run away with the game, Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert launched a breathtaking counter-offensive.
Read Also: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Full Schedule, Groups, and Venues
NZ vs AFG Current Score (9th Over): 87/2.
- Glenn Phillips: 42* runs off 24 balls (Current SR: 175.00).
- Tim Seifert (wk): 40* runs off 28 balls.
Win Probability: A dead heat at nearly 50-50, reflecting the sheer intensity of the battle.
| Team | Score | Overs | Status |
| AFG | 182/6 | 20.0 | Set Target of 183 |
| NZ | 87/2 | 9.0 | Phillips & Seifert on fire |
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