T20 World Cup 2026: Yuvraj Samra’s 110 in Vain as Glenn Phillips Power New Zealand to a Win

Yuvraj Samra’s record-breaking century — 110 off 65 balls at 19 years and 141 days to become the youngest player to score a fifty in a men’s T20 World Cup and the highest scorer by an Associate batter against a Full Member in the tournament’s history — ultimately went in vain as New Zealand coasted to an eight-wicket victory over Canada in the 31st Group D match in Chennai on February 17, 2026.

Glenn Phillips smashed an unbeaten 76 off 36 balls and Rachin Ravindra an unbeaten 59 off 39 as the pair added an unbroken 146-run third-wicket partnership off just 73 deliveries to chase down 174 with 4.5 overs (29 balls) to spare, confirming New Zealand’s place in the Super Eights.

Canada’s bowlers and fielders let them down badly — no-balls, wides, overthrows, dropped catches and missed flick-backs at the boundary — despite Samra’s extraordinary innings that had briefly given them hope of a competitive total. Samra, who added 116 in 14 overs for the first wicket with Dilpreet Bajwa (36 off 39), was eventually dismissed in the final over, caught at deep backward square leg by Phillips on the second attempt after a reprieve on 103 when Neesham dropped a long-on chance that burst through his hands for four. Daryl Mitchell captained New Zealand in place of Mitchell Santner, who was ruled out due to a “dodgy burger.” Lockie Ferguson had earlier returned home for the birth of his first child.

Match Summary

Canada won the toss and elected to bat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Samra took charge from the first over, hitting back-to-back fours off Henry’s final two balls, then smashing four fours and a six off Neesham in the powerplay’s final over. His fifty came off 36 balls, and he accelerated through the middle with 6-6-4 off McConchie in the 13th over. He brought up his hundred off 58 balls with a toe-ended four past short third and finished with 110 off 65, but his dismissal in the final over left Canada with 173 for 4.

In the chase, New Zealand’s start was mixed — indiscipline from Canada’s bowlers (no-balls, wides, overthrows) helped them to 30 for 2, then 60 for 2 in the powerplay despite losing Seifert and Allen. Phillips took over after the powerplay, hitting back-to-back fours off Saad and launching Bajwa for a straight six. His fifty came off just 22 balls, and Ravindra accelerated in the closing overs to finish the match with New Zealand at 176 for 2 in 15.1 overs.

Match Scorecard

Player of the Match: Glenn Phillips (76* off 36 & 3 catches) Cricinfo’s MVP: Yuvraj Samra (90.05 pts — despite losing) Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Date: February 17, 2026 Toss: Canada won; elected to bat NZ captain: Daryl Mitchell (Santner out — “dodgy burger”; Ferguson returned home for birth of first child) Historic milestones: Samra: highest score by Associate batter vs Full Member in T20 WC history; youngest to score 50+ in men’s T20 WC (19 years 141 days)

First Innings: Canada’s Batting (173/4 in 20 Overs)

Samra Takes Charge — Back-to-Back Fours

Matt Henry started proceedings with four dot balls to Samra, but the left-handed opener immediately found his rhythm with back-to-back fours off the last two deliveries of the first over. Samra faced only five balls in the next four overs but exploded in the final over of the powerplay, taking James Neesham apart. With Neesham operating from around the wicket, Samra pulled to fine leg for four, muscled over midwicket for four, drilled down the ground for four, and came down the ground to slash over covers — the first three went for fours, the last carried all the way for six.

Samra Reaches Fifty — Then Accelerates

Samra kept the scoreboard ticking after the powerplay. He smashed Kyle Jamieson’s slower ball through extra cover before pulling Cole McConchie for a flat six. He reached his fifty off 36 balls — the youngest player to score a fifty in a men’s T20 World Cup at 19 years and 141 days. New Zealand’s attack, missing both Lockie Ferguson (returned home for first child’s birth) and Mitchell Santner (ruled out due to “dodgy burger”), looked toothless, and Samra took full advantage.

He started the 13th over by smashing McConchie for 6-6-4, and the Samra-Bajwa opening partnership reached 116 off 14 overs — Bajwa’s contribution was just 36 off 39 balls. Samra brought up his hundred off 58 balls, getting there with a toe-ended four past short third.

Dropped on 103 — Then Dismissed in Final Over

On 103, Samra had a reprieve when Neesham dropped him at long-on off Henry. The ball burst through Neesham’s hands and went for four. Samra was eventually dismissed in the final over, caught at deep backward square leg by Phillips on the second attempt. He finished with 110 off 65 balls — the highest score by an Associate batter against a Full Member in T20 World Cup history.

Canada Batting Performance

New Zealand Bowling Performance

Missing: Lockie Ferguson (returned home, first child’s birth); Mitchell Santner (ruled out, “dodgy burger”)

Second Innings: New Zealand’s Chase (176/2 in 15.1 Overs)

New Zealand’s Mixed Start — Canada’s Indiscipline

Canada’s indiscipline with the ball was evident from the very first over. Jaskaran Singh’s second delivery was down the leg side, which Allen helped to the fine-leg boundary. It was followed by an off-side wide and a front-foot no-ball. Allen attempted a quick single off the latter; the short midwicket fielder missed the throw at the bowler’s end, and a sloppy effort from the backing-up fielder resulted in four overthrows.

Allen then took apart Dilon Heyliger, hitting his first two balls for a four and a six. Seifert also threw his bat around, getting one over covers, but Shivam Sharma — the chasing fielder — was casual near the boundary line and failed to flick the ball back. Saad Bin Zafar provided temporary relief by having Seifert caught at mid-off. When Allen was caught in the covers off a Heyliger delivery that stuck in the pitch, New Zealand were 30 for 2 in 3.1 overs.

But Canada’s profligacy continued. Bajwa started the fifth over with a no-ball and also bowled a wide before Ravindra hit him for two fours in three balls. That allowed New Zealand to finish the powerplay at 60 for 2.

New Zealand Powerplay Chaos

The Glenn Phillips Show — Fifty Off 22 Balls

Phillips took the lead after the powerplay. He hit Saad for back-to-back fours before launching Bajwa for a straight six. When Ansh Patel came on to bowl, Phillips treated the left-arm wristspinner with disdain, hitting him for three sixes in eight balls. The last of those sixes brought up Phillips’ fifty off just 22 balls.

By the end of the 11th over, New Zealand needed only 53 from 54 balls. Phillips was in a hurry. Against Saad, he switched his hands and pulled him for a six over deep extra cover, even though there was a fielder at the boundary line. Ravindra, who had taken the backseat, finished the over with another six. A few minutes later, he pulled Jaskaran through midwicket to bring up the victory — New Zealand reached 176 for 2 in 15.1 overs, winning by eight wickets with 29 balls remaining.

New Zealand Batting Performance

Phillips-Ravindra partnership: 146* off 73 balls (unbroken 3rd wicket)

Canada Bowling Performance

Match-Winning Performances

Glenn Phillips — Player of the Match

Rachin Ravindra

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