A blazing knock from Glenn Phillips powered New Zealand national cricket team to a commanding eight-wicket win over Canada as the Kiwis sealed their Super 8 berth from Group D on Tuesday.

Phillips smashed the fastest fifty by a New Zealander in T20 World Cup history, finishing unbeaten on 76 off just 36 balls (6x6, 4x4). Alongside him, Rachin Ravindra struck a fluent 59 not out from 39 deliveries as the duo shared a match-winning, unbroken 146-run stand off only 73 balls.

Chasing 174 in a must-win clash, New Zealand recovered from an early wobble to overhaul the target in just 15.1 overs, sealing qualification with six points and a healthy net run rate of 1.227.

Canada had earlier ridden on a sensational 110 from 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra, who became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 World Cup history. But his heroics were overshadowed by New Zealand’s ruthless chase and Canada’s undisciplined bowling effort.

Glenn Phillips, Rachin turn the tide for New Zealand

New Zealand were rocked early, slipping to 30 for 2 inside four overs after quick wickets of Finn Allen (21 off 8) and Tim Seifert.

However, Ravindra and Phillips quickly shifted momentum. Ravindra was elegant and authoritative through the off-side, while Phillips exploded after a cautious start of five off four balls.

Phillips tore into the spinners, sweeping and cutting Saad Bin Zafar, launching skipper Dilpreet Bajwa over long-off, and smashing Ansh Patel straight down the ground. He reached his half-century in just 22 balls, peppering the boundary with audacious strokes, including a switch-hit six.

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At the halfway mark, New Zealand were cruising at 106 for 2. Ravindra brought up his fifty off 35 balls before sealing the chase with a crisp pull shot, finishing the job with 29 balls to spare.

Samra scripts history

Earlier, Samra named after India legend Yuvraj Singh — produced a knock for the ages.

The left-hander blasted 110 off 65 balls, striking 11 fours and six sixes. He reached his century in 58 deliveries, adding another record to his growing list of milestones in the tournament.

Samra had earlier become the youngest to score a T20 World Cup fifty at 19 years and 141 days. His 116-run opening stand with Bajwa (36 off 39) was the highest first-wicket partnership by an Associate nation against a Full Member in men’s T20 World Cups.

He set the tone by attacking Matt Henry early and hammered James Neesham for 18 runs in an over during the powerplay. Dropped twice late in his innings, Samra made the most of his reprieves before New Zealand pulled things back at the death, conceding only 23 runs in the final three overs to restrict Canada to 173 for 4.

Already-qualified South Africa top the group on net run rate and face UAE in their final league game, while winless Canada will meet Afghanistan in their last outing.