Colombo witnessed cricketing magic on Friday as England edged New Zealand by 4 wickets in a Super 8 thriller of the T20 World Cup 2026. Targetting 160, England slumped to 117/6 before Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed’s explosive 44-run blitz off 16 balls flipped the script.
Jacks, after snaring 2 wickets, smashed an unbeaten 32 (18 balls, 4×4, 1×6), while Rehan’s 19* off 7 balls guided them home. Captain Harry Brook, grinning ear-to-ear, said, ‘Rehan and Jacks stole the game from New Zealand – pure class.’ Jacks pocketed his fourth Player of the Match award, a tournament high.
Early woes saw Salt depart for 2 and Buttler without scoring. Brook’s 26, Bethell’s 21, Banton’s vital 33 off 24, and Curran’s 24 kept them afloat. Brook credited the smart swap of Overton for Rehan, aligning with their condition-based team selections.
‘We knew Rehan could deliver, and he did spectacularly,’ Brook added. New Zealand’s 160 proved insufficient against England’s lower-order firepower. This third straight Super 8 success catapults England towards the knockouts, showcasing their championship mettle.