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Tim Seifert's 2000 T20I Runs & Match-Winning 65 Lead NZ to Record Chase

New Zealand began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan, successfully chasing a target of 183 runs. Opener Tim Seifert anchored the chase with a composed 65 runs from 42 balls, reaching a personal milestone of 2000 T20I runs in the process. The win marked New Zealand's highest successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history. Despite early wickets from Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a partnership between Seifert and Glenn Phillips steered New Zealand to a comfortable win.

Key Points: Tim Seifert Hits 2000 T20I Runs in NZ Win Over Afghanistan

  • Seifert scored 65 off 42 balls
  • Became 5th NZ batter to reach 2000 T20I runs
  • NZ recorded their highest successful T20 World Cup chase
  • Victory came in both teams' first match of T20 WC 2026
2 min read

T20 World Cup: Tim Seifert becomes fifth New Zealand batter to reach 2,000 T20I runs, says "It's nice to get the job done" after win over Afghanistan

Tim Seifert becomes 5th NZ batter to score 2000 T20I runs, guiding New Zealand to a record T20 World Cup chase vs Afghanistan with a 65-run knock.

"It's nice to get the job done. - Tim Seifert"

Chennai, February 8

New Zealand opener batter Tim Seifert completed 2000 runs in T20 Internationals en route to his match-winning knock of 65 runs off 42 balls against Afghanistan in Chennai on Sunday.

New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in both teams' first match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chasing a challenging target of 183 runs against last edition's semi-finalists, New Zealand batter hit seven fours and three sixes. Notably, the win also marked New Zealand recording their highest successful run-chase in the T20 World Cup history.

Seifert became the fifth Kiwi batter to reach the 2000-run mark in the shortest format. He took 1395 balls to reach the milestone, which is also the fifth fastest for any batter from a full-member nation. Suryakumar Yadav is the fastest to reach 2000 runs in just 1164 balls.

After receiving his Player of the Match award, Seifert said, "Yeah, personally, it's always nice to start the tournament with a few runs under your belt. But the main thing is we got the win. Tough conditions as well out there. Lost a couple of early wickets, so it's nice to get the job done. For us, myself and Finn, we always looked to try and put pressure on the bowlers and we thought pace was going to be easier than spin. And then we just adapted throughout the innings there. And then I thought sometimes the spin actually came a little bit easier than the seam. So it went my way, it's all about the momentum and who you're going to target throughout the innings," according to Cricbuzz.

Despite a double-strike from Mujeeb Ur Rahman that threatened to derail the chase early, a composed half-century from Seifert and an explosive cameo from Glenn Phillips ensured the Black Caps crossed the line comfortably.

Chasing 183, New Zealand's innings began in chaotic fashion. Mujeeb Ur Rahman turned the game on its head in the second over, removing both Finn Allen (1) and Rachin Ravindra (0) on consecutive deliveries. At 14/2, Afghanistan looked to be bossing the game.

Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. A masterclass in middle-overs acceleration from Gulbadin Naib propelled Afghanistan to a formidable 182/6 in their opening Group D fixture against New Zealand. Despite a sluggish start and a double-strike from Lockie Ferguson, the Afghans found their rhythm to post a total that looks set to test the Black Caps.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
What a match! The Chepauk pitch always produces thrillers. Afghanistan fought really well, especially Gulbadin Naib and Mujeeb's double-wicket over. They are no longer underdogs, they are genuine contenders. Exciting for world cricket!
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Rohit P
Solid innings under pressure. 14/2 and chasing 183 is never easy. Seifert paced it perfectly. But honestly, as an Indian fan, my eyes are on our own group matches. Hope our batters are taking notes on how to handle spin on these tracks!
A
Anjali F
Good win for NZ, but I feel the article focuses too much on individual milestones. The real story was the partnership recovery and how Phillips finished it. Team effort wins World Cup matches, not just personal 2000-run clubs. Just saying.
K
Karthik V
Chennai crowd must have enjoyed a good game! Afghanistan's spin attack is world class, so for Seifert to say he found spin easier later is a huge compliment to his skill. This World Cup is already delivering 🔥. Can't wait for India's first match!

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