Chennai, 17 February (H.S.): New Zealand crushed Canada by eight wickets in the T20 World Cup Group D clash at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, securing Super 8 progression with Glenn Phillips' blistering unbeaten 76 eclipsing 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra's groundbreaking maiden associate century.

Chasing 174, New Zealand stumbled early at 30/2 after Finn Allen's fiery 21 off 8 was undone by Saad Bin Zafar's maiden over wicket of Tim Seifert and Dillon Heyliger's dismissal of Allen. Rachin Ravindra (59*) and Phillips then forged a match-turning 146-run stand, with Phillips blasting a record T20 World Cup fastest fifty for NZ off 22 balls—including a switch-hit six off Zafar—before sealing victory in 15.1 overs with a deep midwicket pull.

Canada posted 173/4 earlier, propelled by Samra's historic 110 off 58—the first T20 World Cup ton by an associate batter, comprising 63% of the total. Captain Dilpreet Bajwa added 36, but Jacob Duffy (1/25) and Kyle Jamieson curtailed late momentum.

Scorecard

Canada 173/4 (20 overs) – Yuvraj Samra 110 (58), Dilpreet Bajwa 36; Jacob Duffy 1/25, Matt Henry 1/28

New Zealand 176/2 (15.1 overs) – Glenn Phillips 76* (36), Rachin Ravindra 59* (38); Saad Bin Zafar 1/29, Dillon Heyliger 1/42

New Zealand became the sixth Super 8 qualifier, avenging their South Africa loss, joining West Indies, South Africa, India, England, and Sri Lanka.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar