Colombo, February 28: England delivered a remarkable performance, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday. During this Super-8 match, the English team appeared to be heading towards defeat at one point. However, Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed turned the tide with an unbeaten partnership of 44 runs off just 16 balls. England’s captain, Harry Brook, praised both players for their outstanding contributions.
After taking two wickets, Will Jacks scored an impressive 32 runs off 18 balls, hitting four boundaries and one six. Rehan contributed 19 runs off just seven balls, leading the team to victory.
Brook was visibly delighted with the win, which marked England’s third consecutive victory in the Super-8 round. He stated, “Yes, we have seen what Rehan can do in the nets. He played exceptionally well and, along with Will Jacks, snatched the win from New Zealand. Will Jacks has won the Player of the Match award for the fourth time, which is the highest. That’s why he is very pleased with his performance.”
For this match, England opted to include Rehan Ahmed in the playing XI, benching Jamie Overton. Captain Brook explained that they had communicated to all players from the start of the tournament that team selection would depend on the conditions. They felt it was the right opportunity to give Rehan a chance against New Zealand, and he showcased an outstanding performance.
Chasing a target of 160 runs set by New Zealand, England’s start was poor. Phil Salt was dismissed for just two runs, and Jos Buttler returned to the pavilion without scoring. Captain Harry Brook contributed 26 runs, while Jacob Bethel added 21 runs. Tom Banton finally found his rhythm, scoring 33 runs off 24 balls. Sam Curran chipped in with 24 runs. At one point, England was struggling at 117 runs for the loss of six wickets.
However, the crucial partnership between Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed changed the game. They forged an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 44 runs in just 16 balls, allowing England to chase down the target with three balls to spare, losing six wickets in the process.
