New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said the Kiwis will keep a close eye on the Super 8 clash between England and Pakistan in Pallekele on Tuesday. With the race for the T20 World Cup semifinals heating up, all four teams, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, remain in contention for a top-four spot.
The Black Caps had a slow start to the Super 8s after their match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain. Speaking ahead of their next game against Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Colombo, Santner emphasised that New Zealand will treat every match as a knockout from this point onwards.
“Yeah I mean it’s I guess yeah it is what it is I mean you obviously want to play every game, and Pakistan are in the same boat so yeah I guess we’ll be watching the game tonight Pakistan – England,” Santner said in the pre-match press conference.
“See what unfolds there but again any kind of game in Super 8 is kind of a knockout and we know that it is for us and same for Sri Lanka so we’ll be doing everything we can to yesterday and today to prepare, but also make sure the guys are fresh for another game,” Santner added.
England will secure a semifinal spot if they beat Pakistan on Tuesday, leaving just one place up for grabs in Group 2. However, if Pakistan win, New Zealand will have some breathing room heading into their final two Super 8 matches.
HOW HAVE NEW ZEALAND PERFORMED THUS FAR?
New Zealand’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 has been mixed. The Black Caps advanced from the group stage with notable wins, including an 8-wicket victory over Canada and a 5-wicket win against Afghanistan, but suffered a 7-wicket loss to South Africa in Group D.
In the Super8s opener against Pakistan, rain forced an abandoned match, leaving both teams with a shared point. Batting has shown promise — Tim Seifert scored 173 runs at an average of 57.66 with a strike rate close to 168. The bowlers are yet to make a major impact, with pacers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry taking four wickets each.
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