England beat New Zealand by 4 wickets on Friday night in Colombo in a decisive Super 8 clash at the 2026 T20 World Cup, opening the door for Pakistan to push through to the final four. Deciding to bat, New Zealand looked poised for a big total early on. After openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert came out all guns blazing and put England’s attack under immediate pressure.
Allen struck a brisk 29, while Seifert added 35. However, England’s bowlers showed composure and discipline to wrest control back. The turning point came through their spinners as Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, and Will Jacks each picked up two crucial wickets. Their combined efforts restricted New Zealand’s momentum and limited them to 159/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, England’s chase began on shaky ground as Buttler went for a duck and Salt for two runs. Early wickets left them reeling, but the middle order steadied the innings. Tom Banton anchored the recovery with a composed 33, and Harry Brook added 26 valuable runs. Jacob Bethell contributed a handy 21, while Sam Curran chipped in with 24. Meanwhile, the finishing touches were applied by Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, putting on an unbroken 44 to carry England across the line with three balls to spare.