Chennai, February 17 Glenn Phillips delivered a stunning performance, scoring the fastest fifty in New Zealand's T20 World Cup history, as he and Rachin Ravindra both scored fluent half-centuries, leading their team to an eight-wicket victory over Canada and securing their spot in the Super 8s from Group D.
In a crucial match for both teams, Canada, who batted first, were led by Yuvraj Samra's record-breaking 110 – the youngest player to score a century in the T20 World Cup – but the unbroken partnership of 146 between Rachin and Phillips, along with a disciplined bowling effort, ultimately overshadowed the milestone knock.
Chasing 174, New Zealand were guided by the partnership between Rachin and Phillips, which came off just 73 balls, allowing them to reach the target in 15.1 overs.
Phillips remained unbeaten on 76 from 36 balls, with six sixes and four fours, while Rachin scored 59 not out from 39 balls (4x4, 3x6), contributing to New Zealand's dominant victory.
With this win, New Zealand finished their league campaign with six points and a net run rate of 1.227.
South Africa, having already qualified, lead the group based on net run rate and will face UAE in their final league match.
Canada, with three losses, will face Afghanistan in their final league fixture.
Canada started strongly after Jaskaran Singh's opening over went for 14 runs, including a wide and a no-ball.
Finn Allen (21 off 8) responded before being caught by Shivam Sharma, while Tim Seifert was dismissed soon after, leaving New Zealand with 30 for 2 in 3.1 overs.
However, Rachin and Phillips quickly turned the tide, as New Zealand reached 60 for 2 in the powerplay. Rachin scored with powerful shots, including a six over deep point and two boundaries in the fifth over.
Phillips, who had only five runs in the first four balls, then scored consecutive boundaries – a sweep and a back-foot cut – before hitting captain Dilpreet Bajwa for six over long-off.
He then cleared Ansh Patel straight down the ground and followed it up with another maximum, reaching 39 off 19 balls.
Phillips completed his fifty in style, hitting Patel for a straight six and then pulling one over deep midwicket.
He continued his aggressive batting in the 13th over, hitting Zafar for two sixes, including a switch-hit over deep midwicket.
The partnership reached its fifty in just 30 balls, as New Zealand reached 106 for 2 at the halfway mark.
Rachin meanwhile completed his half-century off 35 balls, hitting Shivam Sharma for a six, before pulling Jaskaran through midwicket to seal the chase with 29 balls to spare.
Earlier, Yuvraj Samra (named after India's World Cup-winning hero), scored a hundred in 58 balls, becoming the third Canadian to achieve this feat in the tournament. He had previously scored a fifty at 19 years and 141 days.
Samra also hit six sixes and 11 fours in his 65-ball knock, taking advantage of a weakened New Zealand attack due to Lockie Ferguson's personal leave and Mitchell Santner's indisposition.
He started strongly, taking on Matt Henry in the opening over with back-to-back fours.
He then shifted gears in the final over of the powerplay, hitting James Neesham for 18 runs.
After two dot balls, he scored 4, 4, 4, 6 – pulling behind square, muscling one over mid-wicket, drilling a straight drive, and finishing with a stunning upper-cut over point – to reach 29 off 17 balls.
Samra completed his fifty off just 36 balls and was supported by captain Dilpreet Bajwa, who scored 36 off 39 balls, as the pair stitched together a 116-run opening stand – the highest partnership by an Associate team against a Full Member in men's T20 World Cups.
Bajwa was eventually dismissed.
Samra also had some luck, surviving on 91 when Henry failed to hold on at deep extra cover and again on 107 off Neesham.
However, New Zealand managed to restrict Canada to 173/6, conceding only 23 runs in the final three overs and taking two wickets.
