NZ vs CAN Highlights T20 World Cup 2026: Yuvraj Samra's Ton In Vain As New Zealand Thrash Canada To Enter Super Eight

Eyes on the next big one - So that is it from this entertaining game, where New Zealand sealed qualification to the Super 8s along with South Africa from Group D, officially knocking Canada, Afghanistan and UAE out of the race. The focus now shifts to a huge clash in Group B at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where Zimbabwe take on Ireland. A win for the Chevrons will take them through to the next round and eliminate Australia from the Super 8 race. Rain has delayed the toss for that game, but we hope that the weather clears soon. See you there. Cheers!

Santner on the road to recovery - New Zealand's stand-in skipper for the day, Daryl Mitchell, shares that Mitchell Santner's health has improved as the day has gone on and should be fine for the next game. He has high praise for Yuvraj Samra, saying he played beautifully and that you have to take your hat off to him. Believes that on that surface, keeping Canada to 173 was a commendable effort from his bowlers. Mitchell mentions that the team backs everyone in the side to step up and deliver, starting with the Bash Brothers (Finn Allen and Tim Seifert) at the top of the order. Tells that he loves playing at Chepauk in front of such an energetic crowd and many players in the team, including himself, have been part of the CSK family. Shares that he is looking forward to the Super 8s, with a trip to Colombo coming up next.

Yuvraj's effort will inspire people back home - Dilpreet Bajwa, the captain of Canada, says that they were confident with the total, with the wicket turning and helping their spinners. Adds that they were in the contest, especially after removing the two openers, but playing one bowler short and lacking the experience of someone like Kaleem Sana limited their options. Bajwa mentions that they lost too many wickets in the Powerplay in the two games, and the plan was to bat deep. He praises Yuvraj Samra for his fantastic hundred and says that for a 19-year-old to do it on a world stage is a proud moment for him and Canadian cricket as well. Dilpreet further adds that matches like this show that the associate nations can compete, but they need to play more matches against the big teams, and then they can even win these matches. Tells that performances like this from Yuvraj Samra will inspire people back in the country to take up cricket. Ends by saying that they will play a full-strength team in the next game and go hard to finish on a good note.

Time to hear from the captains now...

A tough day out - Canada managed to remove both Kiwi openers in the Powerplay through Dilon Heyliger and Saad Bin Zafar, but the skipper might have missed a trick by bringing himself on in the fifth over, which went for 15 and released the pressure, and from there they never really recovered. The counter-attack from the Black Caps proved too strong for the Canadians, but they can still take plenty of learnings from this outing.

Yuvraj’s magic, late overs letdown - Earlier in the game, after electing to bat first, Canada posted a fighting total courtesy of a magnificent century from Yuvraj, who also became the youngest player to score a hundred in T20 World Cups. He and Bajwa put on 116 for the opening wicket, laying a strong platform, but had the skipper been a touch more proactive, along with the other batters around Samra, Canada might have pushed beyond 200. New Zealand pulled things back impressively at the death, conceding just 23 runs in the final three overs. Duffy was the standout with 1 for 25, while apart from Phillips and Cole McConchie, every bowler managed to get among the wickets.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Glenn Phillips wins the award for his excellent knock of 76* off 36. He shares that he and Rachin Ravindra tried to stick to processes and take one ball at a time. Believes that on some days, you just get balls in your zone, and today it happened to be one of those days for him and Rachin. Says that Rachin was fabulous and he works hard on his game. Feels that Ravindra's T20 game has come a long way, and this knock was a reward for his hard work. Reckons that they have got the middle order to do the job in case the top order does not fire, and when they do, the middle order does not have to do much. Opines that it is all a team effort. Praises Yuvraj Samra for his century, saying that he is a clean striker of the ball and paced the innings beautifully. Believes that Yuvraj has a long way to go in his career.

A wobble, then a walk in the park - New Zealand got off to a brisk start before being pegged back by the quick loss of both openers to slip to 30 for 2. However, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips came together and completely took the pressure out of the chase, showing no signs of nerves at all. They were helped by some loose bowling from Canada and made full use of it, punishing anything off line or length. The pair ensured there were no further hiccups, both bringing up unbeaten fifties and adding an unbroken 146-run stand that sealed a dominant chase, with just under 5 overs to spare.

The Kiwis mean business - One blip against South Africa, but three outstanding run chases from New Zealand have confirmed their spot in the Super 8s, and they will be a force to reckon with in the next round with most of their batters among the runs and full of confidence. Canada gave a good account of themselves, but they simply came up against a powerful Kiwi batting unit and had very few answers in the end.

FOUR! That will do nicely. New Zealand are through to the Super 8s. Jaskarandeep Singh takes pace off and goes into the surface. This sits up to be hit at waist height, around off. Ravindra waits on the back foot and smacks the pull all along the ground between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four. Rachin and Glenn exchange hugs, and it is all smiles in the Kiwi camp. New Zealand win by 8 wickets with 29 balls to spare.

Wide! Short and down leg, Ravindra has a swing at it but does not manage to connect.

Two wides! Full and sliding down leg, Phillips fails to lay any bat on the glance. Shreyas Movva moves to his left but the ball bursts through his gloves and goes through his legs. The batters cross for one as the ball dribbles behind.

Shivam keeps the stumps in play, bowls it flat and short, Ravindra can only pat it back to Sharma.

Short and around the leg stump, Phillips switches his stance and has a swing across the line. Drags it towards deep cover for a single.

Sliding on with the arm, short and at the hips, Rachin clips it in front of square and turns the strike over.

A bit of turn, on a nagging length, on middle, Glenn punches it to long on and crosses over.

Shorter and on off, Rachin reaches out and cuts it to deep cover for one.

SIX! Rachin Ravindra gets to his FIFTY in style! This knock will do his confidence the world of good as the Super 8s approach. Fired in full from around the wicket, angling into middle and leg, and Rachin absolutely nails the slog sweep. High and handsome over deep mid-wicket for a towering six. 9 needed more.

DRINKS BREAK! Just 15 more runs needed for New Zealand to seal their spot in the Super 8s. After losing both openers, it did not take long for Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to seize control and take the game by the scruff of the neck. Canada have not helped their cause either, with inconsistency in line and length, allowing the batters to dictate terms. Shivam Sharma (1-0-13-0) is back.

FOUR! The Kiwis are in a hurry here! Dilon Heyliger bangs this into the pitch, on middle, sits up nicely for the batter. Glenn Phillips climbs onto it and heaves it away in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for four more runs.