“Despite the loss, Canada’s young stars showed glimpses of talent on the big stage”
New Zealand delivered a commanding performance to beat Canada by eight wickets in their Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match took place on February 17 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Canada batted first and set a competitive target of 174 runs for New Zealand. Yuvraj Samra shone for Canada, scoring a brilliant 110 off 65 balls with 11 fours and six sixes. Dilpreet Bajwa added 36 runs, helping Canada post a challenging total despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Chasing the target, New Zealand dominated the innings. Glenn Phillips led the charge with an unbeaten 76 off 36 balls, while Rachin Ravindra supported him with 59 not out. The duo shared an unbeaten 146-run partnership, guiding New Zealand to 176 for 2 in just 15.1 overs, winning comfortably with nearly five overs to spare.
This victory ensures that New Zealand advances to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. For Canada, despite Samra’s historic century, the team remains winless in the competition. The match highlighted New Zealand’s strong batting depth and their ability to chase large totals with composure.