Rehan Ahmed Fireworks Seal Thrilling Four-Wicket Win for England Over New Zealand

Colombo, Feb 2026 : A nerveless late flourish from Rehan Ahmed and a composed middle-order effort from Will Jacks powered England to a dramatic four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a high-intensity Group 2 Super 8s clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday. Chasing a challenging target of 160, England held their nerve in the closing overs to finish at 161/6 in 19.3 overs, keeping their tournament campaign firmly on track.

England’s chase got off to a nightmare start under lights as New Zealand’s pace duo, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, struck almost immediately. Henry’s movement with the new ball and Ferguson’s extra pace unsettled the English top order, resulting in the early dismissals of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler within the first eight deliveries. With just two runs on the board and two wickets down, England found themselves under immense pressure, staring at the possibility of a collapse.

At that crucial juncture, captain Harry Brook took responsibility, showing maturity beyond his years. Alongside the young Jacob Bethell, Brook rebuilt the innings with a calm, calculated approach. The pair resisted the temptation to chase boundaries and instead focused on rotating strike, guiding England to 47/2 at the end of the powerplay. Their unbroken 45-run stand for the third wicket brought much-needed stability and ensured England stayed within touching distance of the target.

However, New Zealand found a breakthrough through Glenn Phillips, who made an instant impact with the ball. Brook, looking to accelerate, fell for a measured 26, giving the Black Caps a timely wicket. Phillips then produced a moment of brilliance in the field, diving forward to take a stunning catch and dismiss Bethell for 21. With two wickets falling in quick succession, England once again found themselves in trouble, the asking rate creeping upward.

Earlier in the evening, New Zealand had produced a competitive batting effort after opting to bat first. Openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert provided a brisk start despite a disciplined opening over from Jofra Archer. Allen and Seifert counter-attacked effectively, taking on Sam Curran and Liam Dawson to keep the scoreboard ticking. After a maiden first over, New Zealand surged to 54 runs in the next five overs, completing a productive powerplay without losing a wicket — a rare occurrence against England’s bowling attack in the tournament.

The momentum shifted when Adil Rashid introduced his guile into the attack. With a teasing delivery, he lured Seifert (35) out of his crease to break the 64-run opening partnership. The wicket was significant not just in the context of the match but also personally for Rashid, who moved closer to the all-time leading wicket-takers in T20 World Cup history.

Will Jacks then struck in his very first over, as Allen (29) misjudged a lofted shot and was caught in the deep by Bethell. With both openers back in the pavilion, New Zealand’s flying start was checked. Glenn Phillips tried to steady the innings, showing intent and composure. He added 31 runs with Rachin Ravindra and later 26 with Mark Chapman, keeping the scoreboard moving even as wickets fell around him.

Phillips eventually top-scored with a well-crafted 39 off 28 balls before falling to Will Jacks, who capped off an excellent all-round display. From there, New Zealand struggled to regain momentum, losing their final four wickets for just 36 runs. Rashid, Jacks, and Rehan Ahmed shared two wickets apiece as the Black Caps were restricted to 159/7 — a total that felt competitive but not imposing on a good batting surface.

Back in the chase, England’s middle order faced mounting pressure. Sam Curran and Tom Banton briefly revived hopes with a 42-run partnership, combining sensible shot selection with timely boundaries. Ravindra, however, continued his impressive all-round performance by dismissing Curran for 24, tempting him into a mistimed aerial shot.

With 43 needed off the final 18 balls, the match tilted delicately in New Zealand’s favour. Phillips, who had been exceptional until then, endured a costly over as Rehan Ahmed launched a fearless counterattack, smashing two sixes and two fours to collect 22 runs. The momentum swung sharply. Mitchell Santner’s penultimate over also went for 16, including a boundary and a towering six from Ahmed, leaving England firmly in control.

Matt Henry had the unenviable task of defending the final over, but with the pressure mounting, he could not stem the flow. Rehan Ahmed’s unbeaten 19 off just seven deliveries sealed the contest with three balls to spare, sparking jubilant celebrations in the England camp.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2-23, Adil Rashid 2-28) lost to England 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Tom Banton 33, Harry Brook 26; Rachin Ravindra 3-19, Lockie Ferguson 1-14) by four wickets.