ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Jacks and Rehan Ahmed Heroics Seal Dramatic Win vs New Zealand

England clinched a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 49th Match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, held at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. New Zealand set a target of 159 runs, finishing their innings at 159/7 in 20 overs. However, England rose to the challenge, successfully chasing down the score with 161/6 in just 19.3 overs.

Will Jacks shone brightly with a standout all-round performance, scoring 32 runs off 18 balls and taking two crucial wickets, earning him the Player of the Match title. A vital partnership between Jacks and Rehan Ahmed in the closing stages helped steer England to a significant victory.

England wrapped up an unbeaten Super Eight run in the T20 World Cup with an exhilarating four-wicket victory over New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium. This win not only secured them the top spot in Group 2 but also propelled them into the semi-finals with a surge of confidence. 

Pakistan’s Semifinal Hopes Depend on Big Win Over Sri Lanka

New Zealand set a challenging target of 159/7 on a pitch that favored spin. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen got them off to a solid start, putting together 64 runs during the Powerplay, while Glenn Phillips contributed a valuable 39 to ensure a strong finish. England’s spinners, particularly Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed, who each took two wickets, did a fantastic job of tightening the screws during the middle overs. 

The chase didn’t start well for England. Matt Henry dismissed Phil Salt early on, and Jos Buttler went out without scoring. Harry Brook tried to turn things around with some impressive shots, including a spectacular flick for six, but with wickets falling regularly, the Three Lions found themselves needing 43 runs from the last three overs. 

But then, Jacks (32* off 18) and Rehan (19* off 7) unleashed a flurry of runs, smashing 44 off just 16 balls to clinch a thrilling victory with three balls to spare. As England heads to Mumbai unbeaten, New Zealand’s loss has opened the door for Pakistan, who now need to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase down the target in 13.1 overs to qualify. 

Will Jacks, the all-rounder for England, was named Player of the Match for his outstanding contributions with both bat and ball. Earlier, he took two wickets while giving away just 23 runs, and later, he played a crucial innings of 32* off 18 balls to guide his team to victory.