CHENNAI: Yuvraj Samra brilliant century propelled Canada to a competitive total of 173-4 in their Group D clash against New Zealand at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk.
Opting to bat first, Canada got off to a strong start as openers Samra and captain Dilpreet Bajwa built a solid foundation. The pair accumulated runs steadily, balancing aggression with caution, as they guided Canada past the 50-run mark without losing a wicket.
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Samra, in particular, dominated proceedings, bringing up a fluent half-century during the powerplay and middle overs. Bajwa contributed a valuable 36 off 39 deliveries, including four boundaries, before falling in the 14th over as Canada reached 116-1.
Undeterred, Samra accelerated his scoring, putting pressure on New Zealand’s bowling attack and inching closer to a milestone. Navneet Dhaliwal provided useful support, helping maintain momentum in the latter stages of the innings.
Yuvraj Samra Reflects on His Inspiration and Match Approach
Canada batter Yuvraj Samra shared that Yuvraj Singh has been a hero to him since his childhood, making it incredibly meaningful to even be compared with the Indian great. He added that the century was a heartfelt… pic.twitter.com/3zE8s8nmgN
— DAVID (@1DAVID92) February 17, 2026
New Zealand struck late breakthroughs, with Matt Henry dismissing Dhaliwal for 10 and Jacob Duffy claiming Samra’s prized wicket in the final over. Nicholas Kirton was removed cheaply for two by Jimmy Neesham.
Samra’s innings ended at 110 off 65 balls, featuring 11 crisp fours, marking his maiden T20I century. The opener’s commanding performance anchored Canada’s innings and set the stage for a challenging total for the Kiwis.
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In the final overs, Dilon Heyliger added quick runs with an unbeaten eight off three balls, including a six off his first delivery, while Harsh Thaker chipped in with a run-a-ball three. Their contributions pushed Canada to a total of 173-4, providing a solid platform for the bowlers to defend in the second innings.
Canada will hope that Samra’s scintillating performance inspires the team to challenge New Zealand in what promises to be an exciting contest.