New Zealand Cruises into Super Eights on Back of Phillips-Ravindra Show


Yuvraj Samra's record-breaking 110 wasn't enough as New Zealand secured their Super Eights spot with an 8-wicket win over Canada. Samra, the youngest centurion in T20 World Cup history, scored 110 off 65 balls, but Glenn Phillips (76*) and Rachin Ravindra (59*) led New Zealand's chase with an unbeaten 146-run partnership, overhauling Canada's 174-run target in 15.1 overs. Canada's bowlers and fielders had early success with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen's wickets, but Glenn Phillips (76*) and Rachin Ravindra (59*) turned the game around with an unbeaten 146-run partnership off 73 balls, taking New Zealand home with 4.5 overs to spare. Samra exploded into action after a slow start, taking James Neesham for four fours in the last over of the powerplay. He continued to dominate, smashing Kyle Jamieson's slower ball through extra cover and pulling Cole McConchie for a six, reaching his fifty off 36 balls. Samra's aggressive batting kept Canada's score ticking. Allen then took apart Dilon Heyliger, hitting his first two balls for a four and a six. Seifert also threw his bat around and got one over the covers. Shivam Sharma, the chasing fielder, was casual in his effort near the boundary line and failed to flick the ball back. Batting first, Canada posted a competitive 173 for 4, thanks to Samra's 110 off 65 balls, the highest score by an Associate batter against a Full Member in the tournament's history. At 19 years and 141 days, the left-hand opener also became the youngest to cross 50 in a men's T20 World Cup match. Samra was unstoppable! He smashed New Zealand's bowling, scoring 110 off 65 balls, with 12 fours and 5 sixes. Dilpreet Bajwa added 36, but Samra's onslaught was too much. New Zealand's bowling looked toothless without Ferguson and Santner, and Samra took full advantage. New Zealand 176 for 2 (Phillips 76*, Ravindra 59*, Saad 1-29) beat Canada 173 for 4 (Samra 110, Bajwa 36, Duffy 1-25) by eight wickets