T20 World Cup: Black Caps overcome stunning Yuvraj Samra ton to beat Canada and progress to Super Eights

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

At MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: Canada 173-4 off 20 overs (Yuvraj Samra 110 off 65, Dilpreet Bajwa 36 off 39) lost to New Zealand 176-2 off 15.1 overs (Glenn Phillips 76no off 36, Rachin Ravindra 59no off 39) by eight wickets.

Crook from a “dodgy burger” absent captain Mitchell Santner would have felt even worse watching Canada’s teenage talent take apart the Black Caps.

Thankfully for Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips saved New Zealand’s blushes in Chennai to send them to the Super Eights at the T20 World Cup.

Phillips and Ravindra were in destructive touch on Tuesday as New Zealand overcame some first innings jitters with the ball to beat Canada by eight wickets in their final pool match. They did it easily in the end too, winning with 29 balls to spare.

The duo combined for a match-altering 146-run unbroken third wicket stand off just 73 balls with Phillips in menacing touch and Ravindra scoring some welcome runs at the home of his former IPL side, Chennai Super Kings.

Phillips blasted an unbeaten 76 from 36 balls, whacking four fours and six sixes, while Ravindra struck 59 not out from 39.

Canadian 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra announced himself to the cricket world, hitting a brilliant 110 from 65 balls, but it ultimately proved in vain.

“I think some days you just get balls in your zone a little more than others and today happened to be one of those days,” Phillips told Sky Sport.

“I think for both myself and Rachin it was definitely about trying to make good decisions one ball at a time and that’s all that really mattered and carried on the partnership and it grew really well.”

When Tim Seifert and Finn Allen departed early in New Zealand’s pursuit of 174, Canada were eyeing what would been a famous upset.

Santner was forced to miss the match with food poisoning after eating a “dodgy burger” with Daryl Mitchell captaining the side.

It was a double blow for the Black Caps’ attack, who were also without their quickest bowler Lockie Ferguson – returning to New Zealand for the birth of his first child.

New Zealand’s victory confirms their place in the Super Eights. They will travel to Sri Lanka for the second stage of the tournament, facing Sri Lanka, England, and likely Pakistan in group 2, one New Zealand would back themselves to advance from.

For the fourth straight pool match, New Zealand were sluggish with the ball.

They failed to hit their lengths enough and were guilty of serving up too many loose deliveries to Samra and Canada’s top order.

New Zealand have battled to generate sufficient pressure in the power play (first six overs) all tournament, not being able to strike regularly up top.

Samra and captain Dilpreet Bajwa added 116 for the first wicket to give Canada a wonderful platform with Kyle Jamieson finally producing the breakthrough with the last ball of the 14th over.

If New Zealand have aspirations of reaching the semifinals they will need a huge lift with the ball in the Super Eights, something which could be challenging with uncertainty when Ferguson will return to the side. Matt Henry is also set for short-term leave too in the tournament’s latter stage with his wife Holly due to give birth.

Samra’s stunning knock got Canada through to 173-4, but it always seemed they would have to bowl spectacularly to restrict New Zealand’s potent top order.

He put on a show for Canada, blasting the highest score of this T20 World Cup and the second century of the tournament.

The man named after Indian legend Yuvraj Singh sent the New Zealand bowlers to all corners of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, clubbing 11 fours and six sixes in his memorable knock.

Jimmy Neesham was smacked for 18 runs in his first over at the bowling crease with Samra belting three consecutive fours and a six to end the over.

Cole McConchie, only officially approved as a replacement player for the injured Michael Bracewell on Monday, was smacked for 19 in his third over, including back-to-back sixes from Samra to open the over.

No-one was safe the way Samra was seeing the ball.

New Zealand’s frustrating time in the field was summed up when the ball sailed through Neesham’s hands at long off when he should have taken a regulation catch to send Samra on his way for 103.

Canada sniffed a famous victory at the halfway point and that looked even more promising when Allen was well held at cover after producing a leading edge.

Enter Phillips and Ravindra who were aggressive against the Canadian attack and changed the complexion of the match.