New Zealand got their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign underway with a thumping 5-wicket win over Afghanistan in Chennai.
Wicket-keeper Tim Seifert led the Kiwi fightback with a fighting half-ton after they tumbled early.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two wickets in the second over of the innings to put the New Zealanders on backpedal.
Seifert then launched an attack and went on to score 65 off 42 deliveries while Glenn Phillips hit 42 in 25 balls.
Skipper Mitchell Santner and Daryll Mitchell eventually took them over the line in 17.5 overs.
Mujeeb finished with figures of 2/31.
Earlier, Gulbadin Naib smashed a fine fifty as Afghanistan posted a 182 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Apart from Naib (63), Sediqullah Atal (29) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) also chipped in with useful contributions.
For New Zealand, Lockie Fergusen (2/32) snapped two wickets, while Jacob Duffy (1/30), Rachin Ravindra (1/14) and Matt Henry (1/27) picked up a wicket each.
