The Black Caps have avoided a repeat of their disastrous previous Twenty20 World Cup, and opened their tournament with a convincing five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Chennai.
Twenty months on from New Zealand’s chastening 84-run loss to the same opponents in Guyana, the Black Caps’ class of 2026 got the job done in a repeat fixture.
Chasing 183 for victory at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, 65 off 42 balls to Tim Seifert broke the back of the target for New Zealand, who reached their target with 13 balls to spare.
Afghanistan’s total was built on 63 from 35 balls to Gulbadin Naib, but no other batter made more than 30 to ensure the Black Caps weren’t faced with an insurmountablt chase.
While attention was focused firmly on Seifert’s opening partner Finn Allen, New Zealand’s wicketkeeper showed incredible composure in a tricky chase - the Black Caps’ highest in a T20 World Cup.
The 31-year-old hit seven fours and two sixes, and combined in a 74-run stand with Glenn Phillips (42 off 25). The pair masterfully negotiated Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack, on a surface that saw New Zealand name just one specialist slow bowler of their own.
And despite a late wobble, Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) and captain Mitchell Santner (17 not out) added the final 28 runs in 13 balls to complete the job.
Most importantly, victory gives the Black Caps vital points in the tournament’s “group of death”, also containing South Africa, before the two meet in Ahmedabad on February 15.
After captain Rashid Khan opted to bat first, Afghanistan’s openers added 35 together, before Lockie Ferguson (2-40) removed both to end the power play at 44-2.
Promoted up the order to No 3, Gulbadin reached 50 from 29 balls, but lacked genuine support from the rest of his order.
From 123-3 in the 15th over, Afghanistan didn’t capitalise on the platform laid as the lower order added just 59 more to end the innings at 182-6, after Matt Henry (1-27) and Ferguson helped keep the Black Caps from chasing too many.
Victory, though, was always going to come down to the battle against Afghanistan’s spinners.
While Seifert hit Fazalhaq Farooqi’s first over for 12, he lost Allen (1) and Rachin Ravindra (0) at the other end when Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-31) hit the stumps twice, in two balls.
Phillips survived the hat-trick delivery, as he and Seifert counter-attacked to raise New Zealand’s 50 inside the power play.
Once the field went back, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan introduced himself - only to be welcomed by Phillips with a six back over his head, and four over midwicket to bring up the 50-stand with Seifert in 31 balls.
Aside from hitting more fours in the first six overs (10) than Afghanistan managed in their whole innings (9), Seifert and Phillips were exceptional between the wickets, and turned singles into twos on more than one occasion to get in front of the required run-rate.
At 88-2 approaching halfway, Rashid broke the partnership for 74 when Phillips dragged back onto the stumps, as New Zealand reached 92-3 at halfway.
With the game in the balance, Seifert was given a life on 48 when Rashid couldn’t hold onto a chance off his own bowling, and rubbed salt into Afghanistan’s wounds with six over midwicket to reach his fifty in 39 balls.
Seifert hit another six, and boundary for good measure, but fell in the same Mohammad Nabi over when he holed out to deep square leg. But walking off the ground at 124-4, and with 59 runs needed off 43 balls, the platform was set for the lower order to finish the job.
Mark Chapman added 28 from just 17 balls, before he went at 155-5. Any nerves were quelled by captain Santner, though, who promoted himself to No 7, and hit another 15 runs from a Ziaur Rahman over, to get the target to less than a run-a-ball.
Batting at No 6 as New Zealand’s finisher, Mitchell did just that, as a waist high full toss was clubbed for six to level scores, before a single into the leg side saw the Black Caps get off the mark.
The Black Caps’ campaign continues on Tuesday, against the United Arab Emirates at the same venue.
Afghanistan 182-6 (Gulbadin 63; Ferguson 2-40)
New Zealand 183-5 (Seifert 65; Mujeeb 2-31)
New Zealand win by five wickets
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.