New Zealand defeated Canada by eight wickets in the 31st match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With this win, New Zealand secured a place in the Super Eight round. Despite a historic knock from young opener Yuvraj Samra, Canada could not defend their total.

Batting first, Canada put up a solid score of 173/4 in 20 overs. However, poor bowling and fielding allowed New Zealand to chase the target with ease, finishing the game with 29 balls to spare.

Samra Creates History With Stunning Century

Samra played a brilliant innings, scoring 110 runs off 65 balls. It was the highest score by an Associate team batter against a Full Member side in the tournament’s history. At just 19 years and 141 days, he also became the youngest player to score a fifty in a men’s T20 World Cup match.

He started cautiously, facing four dot balls from Matt Henry before hitting back-to-back boundaries. During the powerplay, he attacked James Neesham with a series of aggressive shots, hitting fours and a six in the same over.

Samra continued to build momentum after the powerplay. He struck Kyle Jamieson through extra cover and pulled Cole McConchie for a flat six. He reached his half-century in 36 balls and kept the scoreboard moving steadily.

Dominant Opening Partnership

Samra took full advantage of a weakened New Zealand bowling attack. The team was without Lockie Ferguson, who had returned home for the birth of his first child, and Mitchell Santner, who was ruled out after falling ill due to a “dodgy burger”.

With fewer experienced bowlers, New Zealand struggled to control the runs. Samra launched an attack in the 13th over, smashing McConchie for 6, 6, 4. He shared a 116-run opening stand with Dilpreet Bajwa. Bajwa scored 36 off 39 balls while Samra carried most of the scoring load.

Samra reached his hundred in just 58 balls. He even got a life on 103 when Neesham dropped a catch at long-on. He was eventually dismissed in the final over, caught by Glenn Phillips at deep backward square leg on the second attempt.

Canada’s Sloppy Start in the Field

Canada’s bowling and fielding errors made their task difficult. In the first over, Jaskaran Singh bowled down the leg side, which Finn Allen sent to the boundary. A wide, a no-ball, and four overthrows followed, giving New Zealand early momentum.

Allen then attacked Dilon Heyliger with a four and a six. Tim Seifert also played aggressively before being caught at mid-off by a delivery from Saad Bin Zafar.

Allen soon followed, caught in the covers, leaving New Zealand at 30 for 2 in just over three overs. Despite the early breakthroughs, Canada continued to make mistakes. Bajwa bowled a no-ball and a wide in one over, which allowed Rachin Ravindra to find boundaries. New Zealand ended the powerplay at 60 for 2.

Phillips and Ravindra Turn the Match

After the early setbacks, Phillips and Ravindra took full control. Phillips attacked the spinners, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Saad and later smashing Bajwa for a straight six. When Ansh Patel came into the attack, Phillips struck him for three sixes in eight balls. He reached his fifty in just 22 balls.

By the end of the 11th over, New Zealand needed only 53 runs from 54 balls. Phillips continued to play attacking shots, even switching hands to pull a six over deep extra cover.

Ravindra supported him well, scoring 59 not out off 39 balls. Phillips remained unbeaten on 76 off 36. The pair added 146 runs for the third wicket in just 73 balls and finished the chase comfortably.

Ravindra sealed the win by pulling a shot through midwicket, taking New Zealand to victory and into the Super Eight stage.