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'Your process changes': Seifert steadies Blackcaps after early wobbles against Afghanistan
Sport Nation • February 9th, 2026 12:02 pm
Tim Seifert | Photo: Photosport
The Blackcaps were ruthlessly efficient in their pursuit of what could have been a tricky total in their T20 World Cup opener against Afghanistan, in large part thanks to the efforts of Tim Seifert.
Fresh from his swashbuckling campaign in the Big Bash League, the opener carried that momentum on to the international stage - setting the table for his team with a brilliant 65 off just 42 balls to ensure minimal stress in chasing down their target of 182 with 13 balls and five wickets remaining.
Seifert says the team's clinical performance with the bat didn't do the conditions justice.
"We batted very well, which probably made their total look a little bit under par," Seifert told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
"But the Chennai wicket, from experience in the past, it can be spin friendly and that's what Afghanistan's threats were. So, I thought we cancelled those threats very well.
"We put pressure on the bowlers, so as a batting unit, we went about that innings very well, but also our bowlers had their part as well."
That isn't to say there was no stress, as the loss of Finn Allen (1) and Rachin Ravindra (0) in consecutive deliveries in just the second over of the chase had the Afghans roaring.
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But Seifert's steadying influence and ability to find the boundary consistently helped the New Zealanders stay ahead of the run rate, with Glenn Phillips (42 off 25 balls), Mark Chapman (28 off 17), and ultimately Daryl Mitchell (25no off 14) helped close the door.
Watching from the other end, Seifert noted the importance of being more selective with his battles while maintaining his trademark aggression.
"You never quite have the shivers, but I think your process changes a little bit," he explained.
"Myself and Finn, we obviously look to try and put the pressure on the bowlers and when you do have a little hiccup like that, you might just have to rein it in a little but it's also picking your match-ups.
"I felt the seamers in the powerplay were obviously a little easier than the spinners. So then whenever a seamer came on, I still looked to be positive against them.
"That's just picking your overs rather than when you do have wickets in hand at the top, when you do try and target probably every over."
Seifert and his teammates will look to keep the ball rolling when they face the UAE on Tuesday night.
Listen to the full interview below:
