England have done a favor to Pakistan with their victory over New Zealand in the penultimate Super 8 clash of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. For the lion’s share of the innings, England were behind the eighth ball in the chase of 160 runs as the spin department of the Kiwi side got the better of their batters. 

The New Zealand side posted 159 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs as their middle-order batter, Glenn Phillips, smashed 39 runs in 28 balls while their opening batter, Tim Seifert, clubbed 35 runs in 25 balls at a strike rate of 140, shouldering on three boundaries and a couple of over boundaries.

See Also: Watch: Glenn Phillips' outrageous catch dismisses Jacob Bethell for 21 in ENG vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026

Meanwhile, England kept losing wickets at the start of the innings before their middle order and lower order batters stood up on their feet and bailed them out of trouble. Rachin Ravindra finished his full quota of four overs for a fine bowling spell of 3/19 in four overs at an economy rate of 4.80.

How can Pakistan qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal? 

The qualification scenario for the Pakistan side, who will be up against a depleted Sri Lanka side in the final Super 8 clash of the group at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, will have a stiff job on their hand. The first job for them will be to beat the opponents.

🚨 Here's the NRR situation for Pakistan following NZ's loss to England

Who do you think will qualify? 🤔#ENGvsNZ #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/Ab6ybXDZEd

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 27, 2026

Now, if they bat first in that clash, then they will have to win the game by at least 55 to 70 runs. For example, if they bat first and post a strong score of 170, then they will have to restrict the Sri Lanka side to under 115.

On the other hand, they will have to chase the target superbly quickly, at least with five to seven overs in hand. For example, if they are chasing 150 runs, they will have to complete the chase by 13 overs to get to the third stage of the tournament.

A major update arrived related to Rinku Singh ahead of India's much-awaited clash with the West Indies on March 1 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Rinku went uncertain for the Super 8 phase of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as his father passed away. 

Rinku Singh's father, Khanchandra Singh, passed away after battling stage-4 liver cancer. He was admitted to a hospital in Greater Noida. After reaching Chennai for the India vs Zimbabwe match, Rinku left the national camp to support his family. Though, he joined the team again before the match on February 26.

On the morning of Friday, February 27, the news of Rinku Singh's father's demise broke out. In such a heartbreaking situation, Indian fans are speculating, whether the batter can join the team for their final fixture of the Super 8.

Read More: WI-W vs SL-W, 1st T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

Will Rinku Singh join the team ahead of the India vs West Indies Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026?

As per the latest reports, Rinku Singh is all set to join the team in Kolkata before the India vs West Indies match on the first day of March. Like the previous match, the upcoming contest will be another do-or-die instance for Suryakumar Yadav and his boys. If the team is able to win the match in Kolkata, then they will confirm a seat for the semi-finals. And, if the West Indies win, then they will cross the Super 8 hurdle.

As of now, after the India vs Zimbabwe, and South Africa vs West Indies matches, the Proteas are top of the points table of Group 1 of Super 8 with 4 points and +2.890 Net Run Rate. West Indies holds the second spot with 2 points and a +1.791 Net Run Rate. Team India, the defending champion and co-host of the T20 World Cup 2026, has the same points as West Indies. But because of the Net Run Rate of -0.100, which is lower than the Caribbean's seam, they are in the third rank on the points table. 

West Indies Women will take on Sri Lanka Women in the first T20I of the series on February 28 at the National Cricket Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada. After an exciting ODI series, both teams now shift focus to the shorter format and will aim to begin the T20I leg with a win.

West Indies Women lost the ODI series 1-2 but ended it on a positive note by winning the third match. That victory will give Hayley Matthews and her team some confidence heading into this game. The hosts will look to perform better with both bat and ball and use home conditions to their advantage in the T20 format.

Sri Lanka Women, on the other hand, demonstrated good composure in pressurized situations in the ODI series. They won the first two matches in a close contest and clinched the series even before playing the final match. Though their captain, Chamari Athapaththu did not have a good series with her bat, she did well as a team. The young players contributed at the right time, and Sri Lanka would look to carry the same momentum in the T20Is as well.

WI-W vs SL-W: Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 26
  
• West Indies Won: 20
• Sri Lanka Won: 5
  
• Tied/No Result: 1

WI-W vs SL-W: Pitch Report

The pitch at the National Cricket Stadium indicates that spinners can contribute to the game. The batsmen should take time to get settled before playing big shots. The powerplay overs will be crucial, and openers will try to score quickly while the fielding restrictions are in place.

See Also: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, Match 50: SL vs PAK, head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

WI-W vs SL-W: Predicted Playing XIs

West Indies Women (WI-W):

Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor

Sri Lanka Women (SL-W):

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshita Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushini Nuthyanganha (wk), Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera

English captain Harry Brook has impressed with his brilliant batting performances in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. In their last Super Eights match of the tournament against New Zealand at Colombo on Friday night (February 27), Brook stunned everyone with his incredible flick hitting the stadium screen hard.

Harry Brook smashed six that hit stadium screen 

Chasing down the challenging 160-run target after losing the toss, England lost both their openers cheaply, as they were struggling at 2/2. England captain Harry Brook tried hard to score runs, and during that period, he smashed a towering six that hit the stadium screen.

That six came on the final ball of the third over of the chase, as Brook produced an incredible flick to send the ball at the tower that hit the screen. 

ಎಂತಹ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಶಾಟ್ Brook!🫡🔥

ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 👉🏻SUPER 8 | #ENGvsNZ | LIVE NOW | ನಿಮ್ಮ Star Sports ಕನ್ನಡ & JioHotstar ನಲ್ಲಿ. pic.twitter.com/JNsfcKK86Y

— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) February 27, 2026

England won thriller

Brook scored 26 off 24 balls with three fours and one six. The middle-order batters provided important support to recover the innings, while Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed's brilliant unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 44 runs from 16 balls helped the English side to snatch a victory by four wickets with three balls remaining. England needed 43 runs in the last three overs, and Jacks and Rehan finished the game successfully. 

While Jacks scored 32 not out off 18 balls with four fours and one six, Rehan scored 19 not out off seven balls with one four and two sixes. 

Tom Banton scored the highest runs for his team with 33 off 24 balls with three fours and one six, while Sam Curran scored 24 off 22 balls with two fours and one six. 

Sri Lanka will face Pakistan in Match 50 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage on February 28 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

This match for Pakistan is a must-win game. They are yet to register a win in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. In their previous match, Pakistan faced a narrow defeat at the hands of England, while their match against New Zealand was washed out due to rain. Pakistan not only needs to win but also needs to win by a big margin to stay afloat in the tournament. Their qualification could also depend on the result of the other group fixture. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are already out of the race for the semifinals. After an impressive group-stage performance, the hosts struggled in the Super Eight stage with back-to-back defeats. They will now look to complete their tour on a high note in front of home fans.

SL vs PAK: Weather Report

The weather at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is predicted to be clear and the temperature will be 21°C. High humidity of 83% makes players feel sticky. There is also a 60 percent chance of rain, so short breaks could be on the cards. Teams should be ready for sudden weather changes during the match.

SL vs PAK: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Stats (T20Is)

• Matches played: 36
• Average first-innings score: 165
• Average second-innings score: 144
• Teams winning batting first: 47%
• Teams winning bowling first: 47%
• Highest total: 263/3 (SL vs AUS)
• Lowest total: 81/3 (IND vs SL)
• Highest chase: 184/2 (SL vs AUS)
• Lowest total defended: 125/8 (NZ vs SL)

See Also: SL vs PAK Today Match Prediction – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, 50th Match | Who Will Win?

SL vs PAK: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan

Pakistan (PAK):

Salman Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Tariq, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand will face England in the Super 8 match on Friday, 27 February 2026. It is a must-win game for the Kiwis to reach the semi-finals. Ahead of the match, big news has come from the New Zealand camp as star pacer Matt Henry will travel back home.

The former LSG pacer has been impressive with the new ball and has used his experience well in the tournament. However, he will return home after the Super 8 clash against England for the birth of his second child.

The Kiwis have not yet secured a place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, but the team management remains confident. They have granted Henry paternity leave after the match against England so he can be with his family for this special moment.

Also read -Watch: Glenn Phillips' outrageous catch dismisses Jacob Bethell for 21 in ENG vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026

Coach Rob Walter Sends Best Wishes to Matt Henry

“Firstly, we’re all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child,” New Zealand coach Rob Walter said. “It’s a very special moment for their family and we wish them all the best.”

Walter hopes the team will reach the next round so that the CSK's new signing can return for the final stages. He said there is still a long way to go, but the team is hopeful that everything will work out well.

New Zealand in Strong Position Despite Washout

New Zealand are in a good position in Group 2, even after their match against Pakistan was washed out. A win against England will confirm their place in the semi-finals.

Even if they lose, they still have a strong chance. Their Net Run Rate is +3.050, which is much better than Pakistan’s -0.461. Pakistan would need a very big win to improve their NRR and qualify.

Henry has taken six wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 7.38. He was brilliant against the Sri Lanka national cricket team, dismissing Pathum Nissanka on the first ball of the second innings.

Earlier in the tournament, Lockie Ferguson also took paternity leave but later rejoined the squad.

Toss Update: New Zealand Bat First Against England

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. They have gone with the same playing XI that won their last match.

England have made one change, bringing in Rehan Ahmed for Jamie Overton. The England cricket team have already qualified for the next round.

The match is being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It promises to be an exciting contest.

The last Super 8 clash between England and New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was vital for the latter’s qualification to the semifinal of the event. On a slow surface, the Kiwis batted first and posted a decent score on the board, and put the England side under tremendous pressure with their spin bowling.

But the outrageous fielding and catching from Glenn Phillips went viral, which injected some different energy among the New Zealand players. On the fourth delivery of the ninth over, Rachin Ravindra went for a slow and short delivery against Jacob Bethell, who went on the backfoot and punched the ball in the air, but he didn’t get the elevation.

See Also: Watch: RCB fan's hilarious video ahead of IPL 2026 goes viral

It was a flat good length delivery on the stump. Phillips rushed in and dived forward to roll his body after taking the catch, which was key as he ensured that the ball had no chance of coming out of his grasp. It was possible only because of the hours of practice that they did.

Glenn Phillips; stunning catch from ENG vs NZ T20 WC 2026 goes viral 

New Zealand batted first to post a strong score of 159 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Phillips himself smashed 39 runs in 28 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six at a strike rate of nearly 140, while Tim Seifert clubbed 35 runs in 25 balls at a strike rate of 140.

Watch the video here: 

It’s that man again! 🤯

Glenn Phillips pulls off an insane catch to send Jacob Bethell back to the pavilion. 🔥

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup, SUPER 8, #ENGvNZ | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/ueqfaabxcO pic.twitter.com/af1n7G5DIb

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 27, 2026

England’s spinners were excellent as their debutant of the T20 WC, Rehan Ahmed, finished with figures of 2/28 in three overs. Meanwhile, Will Jacks returned with 2/23 in four overs, while Adil Rashid picked up two vital wickets for an economy rate of seven in four overs.

England kept losing wickets regularly in the chase as things didn’t go their way. Rachin Ravindra was excellent to finish with figures of 3/19 in his four overs, while Santner gave away only 13 runs in three overs. The two pacers’ combined figures were 2/27 in four overs.

Brief Scores: England 161/6 (Will Jacks 32*, Rachin Ravindra 3/19) beat New Zealand 159/7 (Glenn Phillips 39, Will Jacks 2/23) by four-wickets. 

Sri Lanka will square up against Pakistan in Match 50 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 28 February. While Sri Lanka are already out of the semi-final race, Pakistan still have a small chance and must win this game to stay alive.

Sri Lanka had an impressive group-stage campaign with wins over Ireland, Oman, and Australia. However, their performance in the Super Eights has not been up to the mark. They suffered a 51-run defeat against England and then lost by 61 runs to New Zealand. With no points in this stage and a poor net run rate, the co-hosts will now aim to finish the tournament with a positive result in front of their home crowd.

Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, are under pressure going into this match. They have not won a Super Eight game so far. Their match against New Zealand was washed out, and they later lost a close contest to England by two wickets. With just one point and a negative net run rate, Pakistan need a convincing win over Sri Lanka and must also hope results in other matches go in their favor. The margin of victory could be very important for their qualification chances.

SL vs PAK: Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 28
  
• Sri Lanka Won: 16
  
• Pakistan Won: 12
  
• Tied: 0
  
• No Result: 0

SL vs PAK: Pitch Report

The pitch at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium gives a fair chance to both batters and bowlers. Matches here are usually close and competitive. Batters can score runs with ease, while bowlers often take wickets in the middle overs. Fast bowlers get good bounce early on, but the pitch becomes easier for batting later. The average first-innings score is around 167 runs.

See Also: Watch: Team India arrive in Kolkata for Must-Win T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash vs West Indies

SL vs PAK: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan

Pakistan (PAK):

Salman Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Tariq, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Around a month before the beginning of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) revealed their new official jersey, which brings freshness and new excitement among the players and the fans, as they grabbed it in them for the photoshoot, which went viral on social media platforms. 

The Lucknow Super Giants side, under the leadership of Rishabh Pant, didn’t enjoy a great campaign last year when they finished in seventh position with only six wins in 14 clashes and faced eight defeats at a net run rate of -0.376. They would hope for a better performance in the new season.

See Also: Watch: MS Dhoni visits Deori Maa Temple ahead of IPL 2026 season

“Cricket has a way of turning a city into a family. I have seen this happen in Lucknow over the past few seasons. What started as curiosity has become a genuine passion. The stands at Ekana are louder each year. The conversations in the city are deeper. The expectations are higher. And that is exactly how it should be.” The co-owner of the franchise, Sanjiv Goenka, wrote on his X account.

Lucknow Super Giants reveal new jersey for IPL 2026

Apart from Pant, the eyes will also be on the key players, including in-form Abdul Samad, who has been in excellent touch for Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season. Meanwhile, the batting will be under the wings of Nicholas Pooran and another in-form batter, Aiden Markram.

Watch the video here: 

UP ki shaan seene par, trophy ka sapna aakhon mein... 🤩❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/rBAc4KO1VN

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) February 27, 2026

"26 crore people across Uttar Pradesh now have a team that represents them on the biggest stage in world cricket. That is a responsibility we think about every single day. Every decision, from the players we pick to the jersey we wear, is made with this in mind. This new jersey is a reflection of where we are headed.” Goenka wrote.

Mohammad Shami came to the franchise to increase their experience in the pace department, along with the presence of Wanindu Hasaranga in the spin department. Anrich Nortje’s pace will be another key part of the tournament for the side.

The buildup of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is starting a few days later, perhaps after the end of the T20 World Cup 2026 next week. However, the teams and their fans have already shown incredible excitement for various games. In such a scenario, a video of a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fan’s hilarious situation has gone viral on social media platforms.

The fan has been seen to be touching a girl inappropriately at a function, where the girl, who was dancing, was slapping the fan as the crowd came to cool down the situation. It was a very bad behavior from the fan as the other franchise’s fans reacted to the video. Royal Challengers Bengaluru is, however, known for the loyalty of their fans towards their players and franchise, as they will defend their title this year.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2026 Today: 3 Key Factors That Will Decide PAK vs SL Match 50

Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 could be pushed back by a couple of days, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to lock the final opening date of the tournament. No official decision has been taken, while March 28 and 29 appear to be the close dates for the selection.

RCB fans’ funny reaction before IPL 2026 goes viral

The BCCI had announced that the season would begin on March 26, a date that was conveyed to the franchises during the previous IPL auction in Abu Dhabi. But the election dates have broken the scenario. The franchises have not yet been formally informed. The BCCI is also waiting for the election dates in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal.

Watch the video here: 

Why is it always the RCBians every single time? pic.twitter.com/yCstTxPZay

— Mysterious⁴⁵ (@mysterious45_) February 27, 2026

The original plan was to declare the full schedule once the ECI announced the election dates, but the time is running out fast, which pushed the BCCI to go for a few different options at this corridor. The BCCI could even announce two halves of the league at the first stage.

If the event gets shifted to the first week of April, then they will have to stage many double-headers in the event to complete the competition before India’s series in Sri Lanka for the two Tests, which will see many players looking to prepare for the spin threat.