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The 1st match of the Super 8 will feature New Zealand vs. Pakistan in Super 8 Group 2. The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host this match on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM local time.
This is one of the most evenly matched games of the tournament. New Zealand and Pakistan have played 49 T20 internationals against each other. Pakistan has won 24 matches, New Zealand has won 23.
The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is known for being slow and conducive to spin bowling. As the match goes on, spinners usually get more support from the surface.
Let’s look at the betting odds, pitch conditions, and make a simple prediction for this big Super 8 clash.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Super 8 Match 1 Odds
The betting markets see this match as one of the most evenly matched games of the Super 8 stage. The odds are very close because both teams have nearly identical head-to-head records.
| Platform | New Zealand Win Odds | Pakistan Win Odds | Toss Odds (New Zealand) | Toss Odds (Pakistan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.88 | 1.95 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Stake | 1.9 | 1.92 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 1.87 | 1.97 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 1.89 | 1.94 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
New Zealand vs Pakistan Super 8 Match 1 Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | NZ vs PAK, 41st Match, Super 8 Group 2 (Y2 v Y3) |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Saturday, February 21, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL, 1:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
New Zealand vs Pakistan Squad
Both teams have picked their best possible playing XI for this important Super 8 match. There are no big surprises in the lineups. The captains are trusting their most experienced and reliable players for this knockout game.
New Zealand Squad
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie
Pakistan Squad
Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq, Salman Mirza (wk)
Pitch Report of R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka is known for its spin-friendly conditions. As the match progresses, the pitch provides more support to spinners. This makes it harder for teams that bat second to score runs easily.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The pitch usually slows as the game progresses. It starts fairly even, but later it gives extra grip and turns to spinners. |
| Batting Conditions | Batters should be careful at the start and take time to adjust. After getting comfortable at the crease, scoring becomes easier. |
| Bowling Support | Seamers enjoy better conditions in the opening overs, while spin bowlers become more effective during the middle. |
| Ground Dimensions | The straight boundary is about 86 metres. The square boundaries are shorter, ranging between 63 and 67 metres. |
| Average 1st Innings Score (T20Is) | The typical first-innings total is close to 158 runs. The lowest score successfully defended at this venue is 123. |
| Toss and Dew Impact | Captains often choose to bat first because the pitch tends to assist spin later in the match, making it harder for chasing teams. |
Weather Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | At 29°C, warm evening conditions are typically comfortable for players. |
| Weather | Heavy thunderstorms are forecasted for the evening. |
| Precipitation | The rain probability is around 80%, with heavy thunderstorms likely to disrupt. |
| Humidity | The humidity will be around 79%, extremely high for Colombo evenings. |
| Wind | Wind speed is expected to be around 13 km/h. |
New Zealand and Pakistan Head-to-Head in T20Is
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other 49 times in T20 international cricket. Pakistan has won 24 matches, while Sri Lanka has won 23.
| Aspect | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 49 |
| New Zealand Won | 23 |
| Pakistan Won | 24 |
| No Result | 2 |
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Key Players to Watch
Both teams have players who can change the result of the match on their own. It promises to be an exciting and close game.
| Players | T20I Stats |
|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips (NZ) | 2224 runs in 92 matches at an average of 32.23. |
| Daryl Michhell (NZ) | 1856 runs in 99 matches at an average of 27.70. |
| Lockie Ferguson (NZ) | 70 wickets in 47 matches at an economy rate of 7.34. |
| Sahibzada Farhan (PAK) | 1142 runs in 43 matches at an average of 27.85. |
| Usman Tariq (PAK) | 16 wickets in 6 matches at an economy of 5.72. |
| Shadab Khan (PAK) | 979 runs and 123 wickets in 121 matches. |
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