ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, Match 49: ENG vs NZ, head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs
England and New Zealand face off in Colombo, with England already through to the semis and New Zealand chasing a decisive win to confirm qualification.
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England will face New Zealand in Match 49 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 27 February. This particular match may prove to be crucial in determining the final semi-final spot in the group. Although England have already qualified for the semi-finals, New Zealand will be hoping to seal their spot with a good show.
England have been impressive in the Super Eight round. They first defeated Sri Lanka by 51 runs and then pulled off a tight two-wicket win over Pakistan. England captain Harry Brook led from the front with a magnificent century in the chase against Pakistan. With two wins in a row, England have already booked their semi-final ticket and will look to continue their winning run.
New Zealand started their Super Eight campaign with a washout against Pakistan but responded strongly with a 61-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo. That win improved their net run rate and strengthened their chances of moving ahead. However, a loss in this match could open the door slightly for Pakistan, so the Black Caps will treat this as a must-win encounter.
ENG vs NZ: Head-to-Head in T20Is
- Matches Played: 30
- England Won: 16
- New Zealand Won: 10
- Tied/No Result: 4
ENG vs NZ: Pitch Report
R. Premadasa Stadium has hosted five matches in the tournament so far. In four games, the team batting first won, while only one match was won by the team chasing. The pitch tends to slow down, helping spinners in the middle overs. Batters struggle against the older ball. A score of 165–175 could be competitive here. Even so, most captains prefer to chase, and this choice is likely to continue.
See Also: AUS-W vs IND-W, 2nd ODI: Head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs
ENG vs NZ: Predicted Playing XIs
England (ENG):
Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
New Zealand (NZ):
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
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Gopi Marisetty
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