England cricket team, who have already qualified for the T20 World Cup semii-final, will take on New Zealand in their final Super 8 tie on Friday in Colombo. A win against Harry Brook and co. will confirm a berth in the final four for the Kiwis. However, they face an uphill task they take on a formidable ENG unit who have only faced one defeat so far in the marquee tournament.
ENG vs NZ Match Details
- Match: England vs New Zealand, Super 8, Group 2 (Match 49)
- Date: February 27, 2026 (Friday)
- Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
History favors the Three Lions in this rivalry. Out of the 30 T20I meetings between the two sides, England has emerged victorious on 17 occasions, while the Blackcaps have won 10.
- Matches Played: 30
- England Won: 17
- New Zealand Won: 10
- No Result/Tied: 3
ENG vs NZ Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium is known for its balanced nature but traditionally leans toward the spinners as the game progresses. However, recent games have shown that pacers with good variations can find success early on. A par score is expected to be around 165–175. Teams winning the toss are likely to bat first, given that four out of the last five games at this venue have been won by the team setting the target.
ENG vs NZ Probable Playing XIs
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
ENG vs NZ Match Prediction: Who will win?
England is currently the team to beat in Group 2. Skipper Harry Brook is in sensational form, coming off a match-winning century against Pakistan. Their bowling attack, led by the pace of Jofra Archer and the craftiness of Adil Rashid, looks well-rounded for Sri Lankan conditions.
New Zealand, however, is a team that thrives in ICC tournaments. With Rachin Ravindra finding his touch and Mitchell Santner leading a disciplined spin attack, they will pose a massive threat.
Prediction: While it will be a closely contested battle, England starts as favorites due to their unbeaten streak in the Super 8s and superior depth in power-hitting.
Winner Prediction: England
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