Jacks, Rehan’s late fireworks sink New Zealand; Pakistan handed World Cup lifeline

Jacks, Rehan’s late fireworks sink New Zealand; Pakistan handed World Cup lifeline

By Nawaz Gohar ;  A high-octane cameo from all-rounder Will Jacks and a late blitz from Rehan Ahmed propelled England to a hard-earned four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a high-stakes Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

The result not only consolidates England’s standing but also keeps Pakistan’s semifinal aspirations mathematically alive, setting up a tantalizing final set of fixtures in Group 2.

Pursuing a competitive target of 160, the two-time champions endured a calamitous start. Openers Phil Salt (2) and Jos Buttler (2) were back in the dugout within the first two overs with a mere two runs on the board.

Youngster Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook initiated a recovery with a brisk 48-run stand. However, Glenn Phillips broke the partnership in the eighth over, dismissing Brook for a 24-ball 26. Bethell followed shortly after, falling for 21 thanks to a spectacular diving catch by Phillips off the bowling of Rachin Ravindra.

When Tom Banton (33) and Sam Curran (24) departed after stabilizing the middle order, England looked vulnerable at 117/6. However, Will Jacks (32* off 18) and Rehan Ahmed (19* off 7) turned the tide. The duo unleashed a flurry of boundaries, stitching together an unbeaten 44-run partnership in just 16 deliveries to seal the win with three balls to spare.

For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra was the pick of the bowlers, returning exceptional figures of 3/19 in his four overs. Despite his efforts and solitary wickets from Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, the Kiwis could not contain England’s lower-order surge.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Blackcaps posted 159/7. Openers Tim Seifert (35) and Finn Allen (29) provided a platform with a blistering 64-run opening stand. The momentum shifted when Adil Rashid dismissed Seifert on the final ball of the seventh over, followed by Allen falling to Jacks in the very next over.

Glenn Phillips anchored the middle order with a gutsy 39 off 28 balls, but consistent breakthroughs by the England spinners prevented New Zealand from reaching a score beyond 170. Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, and Will Jacks claimed two wickets apiece, utilizing the turn available on the Colombo surface.

England’s victory has simplified the math for the chasing pack. While England remains the team to beat, New Zealand’s defeat means Pakistan must now win their final match against Sri Lanka by a substantial margin to overhaul the Kiwis on Net Run Rate.