🏏 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, 31st match NZ vs Canada 17th Feb 🏏 - Page 5

Hundred for Samra

Take a bow, Yuvraj Samra. A hundred off 58 balls. The talent was always there. Last year, he had smashed a 15-ball fifty against Bahamas but there were doubts if he could play in the same manner against bigger teams. Samra has quelled those doubts in style with an exhilarating knock.

This is the first hundred by an Associate batter at a men's T20 World Cup.

Yuvraj Samra: Honestly, I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every single day, I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage. To do it here, in my first appearance, and as the youngest player in this World Cup - it’s truly a dream come true. It feels incredible. There are so many emotions right now, I can’t really put them into words. Yuvraj Singh is someone I’ve looked up to since I was a kid, so to even be mentioned in the same breath is special. I just wish my dad was here today watching me from back home - this one’s for him. The wicket was a bit slow and the ball was sticking slightly. I felt it was important to pick the right deliveries to attack and not force shots. Once I got set, I focused on timing rather than power. I think bowling into the pitch and mixing the pace will be key on this surface - it’s not the easiest track for free-flowing stroke play, so you’ve got to adapt.

Highest individual scores for Associate teams in T20 WCs

110 - Yuvraj Samra (CAN) vs NZ, Chennai, 2026*

94* - Aaron Jones (USA) vs CAN, Grand Prairie, 2024

86 - Michael Jones (SCOT) vs IRE, Hobart, 2022

84 - George Munsey (SCOT) vs ITA, Kolkata, 2026

80* - Andries Gous (USA) vs SA, North Sound, 2024

6 sixes by Yuvraj Samra is the joint-most by an associate batter hit against a full-member side in a T20 WC innings alongside Brandon McMullen vs AUS in 2024 and Ben Manenti vs ENG yesterday.

This kid is already scripting histories. Doing justice to his name too

Everyone's on their feet. What a knock we have seen today. Absolute cinema. And as people have pointed out in the feedback section, just a toddler when his namesake had hit six sixes in the first edition of this tournament. Boggles the mind!

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are at the crease. Tim Seifert is on strike. Jaskaran Singh will open the attack

Welcome back.. Afghanistan will have a keen eye on this contest and will be firmly behind Canada, because a defeat for New Zealand would keep their qualification hopes alive. Seifert and Allen made a mockery of UAE's 173. What will they do to Canada? The players are out in the middle. Seifert on strike. Jaskaran has the new ball. Here we go..

Highest % of runs by a batter of team total (T20 WCs)

64.4 (123 in 191) - B McCullum vs BAN, Pallekele, 2012

63.6 - (110 in 173) - Yuvraj Samra vs NZ, Chennai, 2026*

62.3 - (104 in 167) - Glenn Phillips vs SL, Sydney, 2022

62.0 - (101 in 163) - Jos Buttler vs SL, Sharjah, 2021

New Zealand are off to a flier: Allen has provided his side a blazing start. Seifert has the capability to tee off as well. Expect a score north of 65 without any loss at the end of the powerplay.

CAN 173/4

NZ

(2/20 ov, T:174) 29/0

New Zealand need 145 runs in 108 balls.

CRR: 14.50

• RRR: 8.05

Win Probability

NZ 78.63%

CAN 21.37%

Kiwis off to great start!!!

https://x.com/icc/status/2023657276285075880

2.4

W

Saad Bin Zafar to Tim Seifert, out Caught by Jaskaran Singh!! Canada's best bowler strikes in his first over and breaks this dangerous opening partnership. The arm-ball that's fired full, Seifert backs away and can't quite get under the length, hence no elevation behind the lofted drive and hits it straight to mid-off, Jaskran laps it up safely on the edge of the circle. Tim Seifert c Jaskaran Singh b Saad Bin Zafar 6(10) [4s-1]

Saad Bin Zafar to Tim Seifert, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

3.1

W

Dilon Heyliger to Finn Allen, out Caught by Shivam Sharma!! Shivam has made up for his boundary miss in Heyliger's previous over. He's taken a stunner. Both New Zealand openers back in the dugout. Canada are cock-a-hoop. Back of a length delivery, stops a bit and Allen closes the bat face early as he attempts to tuck it to the leg-side, the leading edge lobs to cover and Shivam comes in. The ball was dying on him but he bends down and scoops it before it hits the ground. Allen stood his ground, there was a check by the third umpire and the decision went in favour of Canada. Finn Allen c Shivam Sharma b Dilon Heyliger 21(8) [4s-2 6s-1]

Dilon Heyliger to Finn Allen, THATS OUT!! Caught!!