Finn Allen and Tim Seifert's nasty collision results in dropped catch, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets lifeline

A massive error on the field helped Rahmanullah Gurbaz survive when a simple catch was dropped after a nasty collision between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert during the Group D T20 World Cup 2026 match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Matt Henry creates a chance with a poor shot from Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash

It should have been an easy wicket that turned into a lucky lifeline for the Afghanistan opener. The scary yet costly moment unfolded in the third over of Afghanistan’s innings off Matt Henry’s bowling. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to play a very risky big shot.

He walked down the pitch and swung his bat hard without control. The shot went completely wrong, and the ball took a thick top edge and flew high into the air. The ball went behind the wicketkeeper and started coming down slowly.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: Afghanistan men’s cricketers banned by Taliban from....

Watching this, three New Zealand fielders ran towards the ball. Even the wicketkeeper, Tim Seifert, called loudly for the catch and was in the perfect position to take it. Adding to the drama, a slip fielder also ran back but stopped after seeing that Seifert was ready to take the catch.

Confusion between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert costs New Zealand

Just when the catch looked safe, Finn Allen came running fast from short fine leg. Allen did not realise that the wicketkeeper, Seifert, had already called for the ball. Allen crashed into Seifert at the last moment, and both players lost balance.

Because of the collision, Seifert dropped the catch. The Black Caps left shocked, as the poor communication and confusion between the players handed a big lifeline to Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 match in Chennai.

p<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->i<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->c<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->.<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->t<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->w<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->i<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->t<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->t<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->e<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->r<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->.<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->c<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->o<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->m<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->/<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->H<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->G<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->g<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->Y<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->2<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->H<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->1<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->N<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->3<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->Q

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) F<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->e<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->b<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->r<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->u<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->a<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->r<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->y<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!----> <!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->8<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->,<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!----> <!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->2<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->0<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->2<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->6

Lockie Ferguson outsmarts Rahmanullah Gurbaz with clever slower ball

Well, New Zealand finally managed to get rid of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, thanks to Lockie Ferguson’s smart delivery. Ferguson bowled a slower ball and changed his pace at the right time. The pitcher rolled his fingers on the ball, and it moved slightly back to the right-handed batter.

Gurbaz came forward to play the shot but played away from his body as he could not understand the slower ball. The bat got a very small inside edge, and the ball hit the leg stump, ending Gurbaz’s innings after scoring 27 runs from 22 balls, hitting two fours and one six.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma rejects Mukesh Ambani’s snack offer, puts World Cup fitness first

Afghanistan, New Zealand up in pace war at green Chepauk

Meanwhile, the memories from New Zealand and Afghanistan’s last T20 World Cup meeting are still fresh. In 2024, Afghanistan shocked everyone by outplaying New Zealand in the West Indies. This time, the match is being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where the pitch has a green cover and is giving good bounce, just like the old days at Chepauk.

Because of this extra bounce, New Zealand has planned their attack around pace. They have decided not to play wrist-spinner Ish Sodhi and instead packed the team with fast bowlers. Matt Henry is leading the pace attack, with Lockie Ferguson and Jacob Duffy supporting him.

Afghanistan have also gone strong with their fast-bowling options. They have picked Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Fazalhaq Farooqi as their main fast bowlers. Seam-bowling all-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib will give extra pace options.