Live NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup 2026 LIVE Cricket Score: Gulbadin, Sediq take Afghanistan past 100 in gripping contest

The 100 is up for Afghanistan here in the first innings as this stand is doing a good job for them. Afghanistan bring up their 100 in the 13th over with this stand now over 50. 

The first 10 overs of the innings are done, and Afghanistan find themselves at 72/2. Not a big score but just enough to let them have a foundation for later. Phillips is in with his offbreaks. 

The two early wickets have left Afghanistan's middle order to do the heavy lifting of rebuilding the innings and keeping up with the run rate. Gulbadin and Sediqullah are in the middle. The two are keeping the scoreboard ticking with singles. Gulbadin found a boundary straight down the ground. Afghanistan 63/2 after 9.

Ferguson strikes one again. Gurbaz crunched him for a four through to covers on the previous ball, but the bowler gets his man. A slower and fuller one as the other Afghanistan opener drags it back on. Afghanistan now 44/2 after 6. They have lost both of their openers now.

New Zealand missed getting Zadran LBW and run-out in the previous over, but Ferguson strikes and removes him on his first ball. This was a back-of-a-length ball as Zadran cut it straight to Phillips at point. NZ strike as AFG 35/1 after 5.1.

And Gurbaz get a much-needed boundary in the fourth over. He shuffles across this fuller ball from Duffy and scoops it behind for a six. He then pulls one for a four. Afghanistan now on a move with 11 from the over. Afghanistan 26/0 4.

Gurbaz has been out down here in the third over. This was a tough chance as the batter top-edged his pull. Two fielders and the wicketkeeper ran behind the ball but could not take it. Afghanistan are not able to get a boundary. It seems that there is something in it for the bowlers. Afghanistan 15/0 after 3.

Early signs from Afghanistan of looking to break free. Gurbaz dances down the track on two occasions in the first over as he looks to go over covers. He does not time even once but clears the midfield and gets a couple of runs a couple of times. Afghanistan 6/0 after 1.

The anthems are done, and now it is time for the real action to begin. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are out in the middle as they look for a strong start in this innings. Matt Henry has the new ball in his hand for New Zealand. 

77 metres down the ground from the KMK end. Short boundaries behind. Danny Morrison is perplexed as the pitch is green. The tough thing is to decide a good score as it's a new surface. Chennai generally spins. But now, there's grass.

The players walk out at the ground as the mini-fireworks welcome them for the national anthems. Afghanistan's anthem first, followed by New Zealand's anthem. Fans have started to fill the venue in numbers.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

"We were thinking about it (whether to bat or bowl), some grass here, not much in Chennai. We've had a series against India, travelled all around the country, then spent some time in Mumbai, and we're here. Everyone are up, which is nice - we were struggling with some of our personnel. Ish Sodhi, Bracewell, Conway and Jamieson miss out," New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said.

"We will like to bat first. First game for us, fresh wicket, put runs on the boards nd I think there will be more help for our spinners later on. We've much experience, have players who've played all around the globe, we're fully ready for it. Myself, Mujeeb and Nabi, the three spinners, but think there'll be help for the pacers as well. We'll have to bat well and then set it up for the bowlers. We have three pacers as well," Rashid said at the toss.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has won the toss, and he has decided that Afghanistan will be batting first today against New Zealand in Chennai.

New Zealand and Afghanistan met each other in the T20 World Cup 2024, when the Afghans had famously mauled New Zealand in the league stage and later made it not just to the Super Eight stage but also to the semifinals. That was also a group of death with West Indies being the third semifinal potentialists, who could make it to the Super Eight only.

Afghanistan and New Zealand find themselves in the group of death with South Africa and minnows UAE and Canada with them in Group D. With potentially three semifinalists in the group, only two of them can make it to the Super Eight stage, with at least one set to be knocked out in the league stage itself. Afghanistan is no longer a team whose win is a major surprise. So, this makes this clash a very high-stakes one.

Hello and welcome. It's time for the group of death to come into life in the T20 World Cup 2026 as New Zealand and Afghanistan play their first matches in Group D. Following a fascinating opening day in the World Cup, the second one offers some more as the Kiwis are up against the Afghanistan side in what is a high-stakes early World Cup face-off. Stay tuned as I, Varun Malik, take you across this game in Chennai.