🏏 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, 31st match NZ vs Canada 17th Feb 🏏 - Page 2

As for Canada, they had their moments against South Africa and UAE but they have failed to convert those into wins. On Friday in Delhi, they had UAE at 66 for 4 in the 13th over in a chase of 151, but they left the door ajar for Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan to sneak home. Canada can't afford such slip-ups against New Zealand - and then Afghanistan - if they are to notch up a win in this World Cup.

Form guide

New Zealand LWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

Canada LLWWW

Thanks for the tag, Soni!

Best of luck to both the teams!

New Zealand lost Adam Milne to injury prior to the start of the p.T20 World Cup Then Michael Bracewell's recovery from a calf problem, which he picked up during a bilateral series against India, did not go according to plan. Lockie Ferguson has left for home on paternity leave and Matt Henry will soon follow. Both will be back for the Super Eights, though there is some slack that needs picking up.

It was perhaps with some of this in mind that Mitchell Santner threw the ball to Rachin Ravindra in the 18th over of New Zealand's first game against Afghanistan.

Just one win. The equation is simple today. New Zealand beat Canada, and they're into the Super Eights. Canada and Afghanistan - the other teams still technically alive in the competition - get knocked out for good. Progress secured, order over chaos. New Zealand have met Canada thrice, always in ODI World Cups, and last met them in 2011. Is there an element of surprise here? A subversion of the inevitable? Cricket, especially, T20 cricket, carries more potential of for a flip of the narrative than most other sports. But surely, just one more win: New Zealand will have it soon enough.

Kyle Jamieson doesn't quite have Ferguson's express pace, but can bang it away on a hard length and stifle the opposition batters. He also has some slower variations in his repertoire and his high-arm release could pose a big threat, especially to batters who are facing him for the first time.

Once known as "Vettori" in Canada's club cricket circuit, Saad Bin Zafar will run into the team that was once captained by one of his heroes. The Canada left-arm spinner often attacks the stumps and keeps it tight, as his economy rate of 6.02 across 67 T20Is suggests. At 39, Saad knows he won't be playing the game for long and will be eager to cause a few upsets on the big stage.

New Zealand will be pleased to be back in Chennai. They began their campaign here with convincing wins over Afghanistan and the UAE, looking settled and clinical. The trip to Ahmedabad though didn’t go as planned. They ran into a confident South Africa side that had just come through a Super Over finish against Afghanistan, and Aiden Markram and his men brushed the BlackCaps aside to seal their Super 8s berth. Which brings us to this fixture. A win here would confirm qualification from Group D for New Zealand. Back in familiar conditions and up against Canada, Mitchell Santner and his side will expect to return to winning ways.

Canada arrived at this World Cup having not played international cricket for over four months, and that rustiness showed in the first two outings. Only Navneet Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker have made significant contributions with the bat, while the rest have struggled for fluency. The bowling, however, has been competitive - restricting South Africa to 213 in the opener and then nearly defending 150 against UAE. Conditions at Chepauk, especially in a morning game, could suit them - particularly the left-arm spin of Saad Bin Zafar. It’s a stern test against a strong New Zealand outfit, but one Canada will look to embrace.

As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 enters the critical backend phase of the group stage, Match 31 features a fascinating David vs Goliath encounter between New Zealand and Canada at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. New Zealand, the perennial dark horses who have become masters of consistency, face off against a Canadian side looking to claim the biggest scalp in their cricketing history.

New Zealand look to bounce back - New Zealand enter this fixture on the back of a hefty defeat against the Proteas. However, having already secured dominant victories over Afghanistan and the UAE, the Black Caps are still breathing down the necks of South Africa for the top spot in Group D. After a disappointing early exit in 2024, the Kiwis have returned to their spin-heavy blueprint, which has proved lethal on Indian tracks.
The Kiwis are generally very adaptable to different surfaces and after playing a five-match T20I series in India before the start of the World Cup, one expected them to be well versed with the conditions. They were excellent in the first two matches but the Proteas really gave them a reality check. When the top order misfires, the middle order seems a bit vulnerable and their pacers haven't bowled well as a unit. A few tweaks are needed if New Zealand want to confirm a place in the Super 8 and one would expect them to do just that.

Canada's chance to stun the world - Canada, led by Dilpreet Bajwa, arrive in Chennai as the clear underdogs but with nothing to lose. While they’ve struggled against the heavyweights like South Africa earlier in the tournament, their unbeaten run in the Americas Qualifiers showed they possess the grit to challenge established nations if the conditions offer a bit of grip and turn. Their last match against the UAE was a humdinger of a contest in which Canada let things slip out of their grasp and ended up on the losing side. They have shown flashes of brilliance and their spin attack in the middle phase can be very effective. The likes of Navneet Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker have shown promise as well in that middle order and it is now up to Dilpreet Bajwa to lead from the front with the bat.

A win against Canada in their first T20I against them on Tuesday will firm up New Zealand's spot in the Super Eight. This result will also knock out Canada; South Africa have already qualified for the next round from Group D with three wins in as many games.

New Zealand have faced Canada just three times in international cricket so far - each time in ODI World Cups. Their most recent meeting coming in the 2011 edition in Mumbai. They have won all three games and are poised to make it 4-0 against Canada in World Cups, despite the absence of Lockie Ferguson. The fast bowler has returned home for the birth of his first child and is expected to link up with the side ahead of the Super Eight. In Ferguson's absence, Kyle Jamieson, who wasn't even in the main squad in the first place, is set to make his T20 World Cup bow.

As for Canada, they had their moments against South Africa and UAE but they have failed to convert those into wins. On Friday in Delhi, they had UAE at 66 for 4 in the 13th over in a chase of 151, but they left the door ajar for Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan to sneak home. Canada can't afford such slip-ups against New Zealand - and then Afghanistan - if they are to notch up a win in this World Cup.

What’s on the menu? First up, Canada take on New Zealand in Chennai, with the Kiwis eyeing qualification to the next round with a win. Later in the day, Ireland face Zimbabwe in Pallekele, where a victory for Sikandar Raza and his men would send them through to the Super 8s and knock Australia out of the race. We will end the day in Mumbai, where Scotland and Nepal will play for pride and look to sign off their campaigns on a high.

Kyle Jamieson - originally not even part of the squad - is expected to slot into the eleven, replacing the injured Lockie Ferguson. He's had a quiet time in international cricket as of late, because of injuries, and his form not quite being quite the same as what he stormed onto the scene with. But this is as good a match as any to slot back into a global tournament.

Rahul: "Group B in the super 8s would be very interesting. Loaded with alot of spin. NZ have Sodhi and Santner, England have Dawson and Rashid, Sri Lanka have Hemantha and Wellalage, and Pakistan with their spin quartet"

On the other hand, keep an eye out on Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar. He was once called "Vettori" in Canada cricket circles. At 39, he might be at the tail end of his international career. A good one at that too: he has bowled at a remarkable economy rate of 6.02 across his 67 T20Is. He will be facing a big test of his stump-to-stump radar today.