England's Bowlers Shine: Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed Restrict New Zealand to 159 in T20 WC

Synopsis

In a riveting match, England's Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, and Rehan Ahmed showcased their bowling prowess, collectively taking six wickets to limit New Zealand to 159 runs. The thrilling clash at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 sets the stage for an exciting tournament.

Key Takeaways

England's bowlers, Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed, each took two wickets.

New Zealand scored 159 runs, failing to capitalize on a strong start.

Rashid is closing in on the all-time T20 World Cup wicket record.

New Zealand's batting collapsed towards the end of their innings.

The match was part of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Colombo, February 27 (NationPress) In a thrilling encounter, Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, and Rehan Ahmed each claimed two wickets, leading England to restrict New Zealand to a total of 159/7 in their 20 overs during the Group 2 Super 8s match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

Choosing to bat first, New Zealand started their innings with vigor. While Jofra Archer delivered a commendable opening over, he soon lost his rhythm. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert found their footing and countered effective bowling from Sam Curran and Liam Dawson, putting pressure on the English bowlers after a wicketless first over.

After a slow start, New Zealand achieved 54 runs in the subsequent five overs, concluding the mandatory batting Power-play, marking the first time in seven matches that English bowlers did not secure a wicket during this phase.

Adil Rashid ended the opening partnership of 64 runs with a cunning delivery, tempting Tim Seifert (35) out of his crease. With a total of 41 wickets in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cups, Rashid is edging closer to the record held by Shakib Al Hasan and has surpassed Wanindu Hasaranga on the all-time list, trailing only Adam Zampa (44) and Rashid Khan (43).

Will Jacks made an immediate impact in his first over, leading to Finn Allen's dismissal (29) as he found Jacob Bethell in the deep, quickly bringing both set batsmen back to the pavilion and stifling New Zealand’s aggressive start.

Following the departure of the openers, all-rounder Glenn Philips stood out as the sole batter resisting England's spin attack. He formed a partnership of 31 runs with Rachin Ravindra (11), who fell to a mistimed pull shot off Rehan Ahmed. Mark Chapman (15) added another 26 runs with Philips before he too was dismissed, as the Kiwis continued to lose momentum.

Jacks capped off his excellent performance with a second wicket, taking down Philips, who made a commendable 39 runs off 28 balls, as England maintained their grip on the match towards the end of the innings. Following the loss of their sixth wicket, New Zealand's innings began to unravel.

The Kiwis' batting collapsed, losing their last four wickets for just 36 runs, with Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed each taking two wickets, ultimately restricting New Zealand to 159/7.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Philips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2-23, Adil Rashid 2-28) against England.

Point of View

It is evident that England's bowlers displayed exceptional skill and strategy, effectively dismantling New Zealand's batting lineup. The performance of Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed was crucial in securing a solid position for England in the tournament.

NationPress

20 Jun 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the standout bowlers for England?

Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, and Rehan Ahmed each took two wickets in the match against New Zealand.

What was New Zealand's total score?

New Zealand scored 159 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs.

Where was the match played?

The match took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

What is Rashid's current wicket tally in T20 World Cups?

Adil Rashid has taken 41 wickets in ICC Men's T20 World Cups, moving close to the all-time record.

How did New Zealand's innings progress?