02/17/26 03:57:00
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02/17 03:56 CST Teenage Canadian Samra's century proves in vain as New Zealand
powers into T20 World Cup Super 8s
Teenage Canadian Samra's century proves in vain as New Zealand powers into T20
World Cup Super 8s
CHENNAI, India (AP) --- Canada batter Yuvraj Samra's exhilarating century
proved in vain as New Zealand advanced to cricket's T20 World Cup Super 8s with
an eight-wicket win on Tuesday.
New Zealand's resounding victory knocked 2024 semifinalist Afghanistan out of
the tournament, with the Black Caps joining England, South Africa, West Indies,
India and Sri Lanka in the next round.
Australia will miss out for the first time since 2009 if Zimbabwe beats Ireland
in their Group B tussle in Pallekele later on Tuesday.
On a perfect batting wicket, Glenn Phillips (76 not out) and Rachin Ravindra
(59 not out) led New Zealand to 176-2 in 15.1 overs as the Black Caps claimed
their third win in Group D.
Samra's 110 off 65 balls, which included six sixes and 11 fours, had earlier
guided Canada to 173-4 after captain Dilpreet Bajwa won the toss and elected to
bat.
The 19-year-old Samra, who caught the eye last year when he smashed a 15-ball
half century against Bahamas, became the first batter from an associate country
to score a hundred at the T20 World Cup.
"I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every
single day I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage," he said. "To do it
here, in my first appearance (in Chennai), and as the youngest player in this
World Cup -- it's truly a dream come true."
Bajwa made 36 off 39 balls and together with Samra put on 116 for the first
wicket.
New Zealand struggled to stem the flow of runs and felt the absence of captain
Mitchell Santner, who was ruled out of the game due to a "dodgy burger" on
Monday night, and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson.
Ferguson is on paternity leave but is expected to re-join the team for the
Super 8s.
Samra was dropped, but not before he had raised his century off 58 deliveries,
when the ball burst through the hands of James Neesham at long-off.
His belligerent knock ended in the final over when Phillips caught him at deep
backward square leg at the second attempt.
When it came to New Zealand's reply, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert fell inside
four balls in the power play before Phillips and Ravindra shared an
electrifying 146-run partnership in just 12 overs.
Nepal, which lost its first three Group C games, takes on Scotland in Mumbai
later on Tuesday.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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