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Cricket-Rehan and Jacks late show leads England to win over NZ
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 28, 2026
3 min readLast updated: February 28, 2026
Quick Summary
England chased down 160 with three balls to spare thanks to a dramatic 44‑run unbroken stand between Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed, securing a four‑wicket win over New Zealand to top Super 8 Group 2.
COLOMBO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks' rapid 44-run partnership turned the game as England chased down a target of 160 with three balls to spare to beat New Zealand by four wickets in the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights on Friday.
England, who had already qualified for next week's semi-finals, topped Group Two by winning all three of their games. New Zealand must wait for the result between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Saturday to see if they advance to the last four.
"It was on a bit of a knife edge and I'm over the moon," said player of the match Jacks, who took two wickets before scoring a quickfire 32.
New Zealand chose to bat first and although Jofra Archer bowled a maiden first over, openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen picked up 54 runs in the powerplay.
The English spinners reined back the 2021 finalists, however, with Adil Rashid getting Seifert (35) stumped and Allen (29) falling to Jacks four balls later.
New Zealand did not hit a boundary between the 13th and 17th overs, as Rashid (2-28) dismissed Mark Chapman (15) and Daryl Mitchell (3) fell to Liam Dawson.
Glenn Phillips made a rapid 39 and Cole McConchie (14) added late runs before captain Mitchell Santner hit a six off the last ball to get New Zealand to 159-7.
JACKS AND REHAN SNATCH LATE VICTORY
New Zealand started well, Matt Henry bowling a perfect delivery to get Phil Salt (2) caught behind, before Lockie Ferguson dismissed Jos Buttler for a duck.
With England reeling at 2-2, captain Harry Brook set about stabilising the innings with Jacob Bethell.
They added 48 runs for the third wicket before Brook, fresh from his brilliant hundred against Pakistan, fell for 26 trying to hit Phillips over long off.
Bethell (21) pulled Ravindra to deep mid-wicket, where Phillips dived forward to take a spectacular low catch and leave England in trouble at 58-4.
Tom Banton and Sam Curran kept England in the game with a solid partnership before the latter holed out.
Rachin Ravindra (3-19) found sharp turn and had Banton (33) caught at mid-wicket, leaving England needing 43 to win from the last three overs.
Rehan (19) and Jacks hit Phillips for a six each to pick up 22 runs from the 18th over and they closed out the victory with ease.
Pakistan need to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase down a target in around 13.1 overs to deny New Zealand a place in the semi-finals.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha, editing by Ed Osmond)
Key Takeaways
- •Rehan Ahmed starred on his T20 World Cup debut with figures of 2‑28 and a rapid 19* off 7 balls, forming a match‑winning 44‑run stand with Will Jacks (skysports.com)
- •Will Jacks earned his fourth Player‑of‑the‑Match award of the tournament, contributing 32* off 18, and earlier had taken two wickets (theguardian.com)
- •The win sealed England’s perfect Super 8 campaign (3 wins), topping Group 2 and confirming a semi‑final berth; New Zealand must wait on Pakistan vs Sri Lanka result to see if they progress (m.economictimes.com)
References
- T20 World Cup: Rehan Ahmed 'adds value' to England after 'upping the ante' in dream debut against New Zealand | Cricket News | Sky Sports
- Jacks and Ahmed find dramatic late blitz to earn England unlikely win over New Zealand
- ICC T20 World Cup points table: Check latest team standings after England defeat New Zealand by 4 wickets
Frequently Asked Questions about Cricket-Rehan and Jacks late show leads England to win over NZ
1How did England secure victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup?
England secured victory with a 44-run partnership between Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, chasing down 160 with three balls to spare.
2Who were the standout players for England in the match?
Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks stood out with their rapid partnership, while Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid impressed with the ball.
3What does this win mean for England in the T20 World Cup?
The win ensures England tops Group Two of the Super Eights and advances to the semi-finals, having won all three group matches.
4What are New Zealand's chances of reaching the semi-finals?
New Zealand's qualification depends on the outcome of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match—they need Pakistan not to win convincingly to advance.
5What was the final score in the England vs New Zealand match?
New Zealand scored 159-7, while England chased down the target to win by four wickets with three balls remaining.
