Glenn Phillips was back at his best, hitting the fastest fifty for New Zealand in T20 World Cup history as he and Rachin Ravindra struck fluent half-centuries to power their side to an eight-wicket win over Canada and seal their Super 8s berth from Group D here on Tuesday.
In a must-win contest for both teams, Canada, opting to bat, were powered by Yuvraj Samra's record-breaking 110, the youngest century-maker in T20 World Cup history, but the 146-run unbroken Rachin-Phillips stand and an undisciplined bowling effort ultimately overshadowed the milestone knock.
Chasing 174, New Zealand rode on Rachin and Phillips’ stand that came off just 73 balls, overhauling the target in 15.1 overs. Phillips remained unbeaten on 76 from 36 balls with six sixes and four fours, while Rachin was 59 not out from 39 balls (4x4, 3x6). The Kiwis finished their league campaign with six points and a net run rate of 1.227.
Having already qualified, South Africa lead the group on net run rate and face UAE in their last league match. Canada remain winless from three matches and next face Afghanistan in their final league fixture.
Canada struck early after a wayward opening over from Jaskaran Singh cost 14 runs, including a wide and a no-ball. Finn Allen (21 off 8) counter-attacked before falling to a stunning diving catch by Shivam Sharma, while Tim Seifert departed soon after as New Zealand slipped to 30 for 2 in 3.1 overs.
However, Rachin and Phillips quickly turned the tide as New Zealand raced to 60 for 2 in the powerplay as Rachin cut and drove with authority, including a six over deep point and two boundaries in a 15-run fifth over. Phillips, who was five off four balls at one stage, shifted gears after the powerplay. He struck Saad Bin Zafar for consecutive boundaries, a sweep and a back-foot cut, before launching skipper Dilpreet Bajwa over long-off for six.
He then cleared Ansh Patel straight down the ground and followed it up with another maximum to move to 39 off 19 balls. The right-hander brought up a 22-ball fifty in style, hammering Patel for a straight six and then pulling one over deep midwicket. He continued the assault in the 13th over, hitting Zafar for two sixes, including a switch-hit over deep midwicket.
The 50-run partnership came in just 30 balls as New Zealand powered to 106 for 2 at the halfway mark. Rachin meanwhile completed his half-century off 35 balls, hitting Shivam Sharma over deep midwicket for a six, before pulling Jaskaran through midwicket to seal the chase with 29 balls to spare.
Earlier, the left-hander Samra, who is named after India’s World Cup-winning hero Yuvraj Singh, scripted his own chapter with a 58-ball hundred, adding to his earlier feat of being the youngest to score a fifty in the tournament at 19 years and 141 days. He is also the third Canadian to register a half-century in this edition.
Also read: England beat Italy by 24 runs, enter Super 8
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