Colombo will witness a thrilling contest on 27th February at 7:00 PM IST when England face New Zealand in the forty-ninth match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium. Both sides will aim to seize momentum in this crucial evening encounter as the tournament approaches its decisive phase.
Get the best ENG vs NZ Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 49th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.
Also Read: Rinku Singh’s father passes away, batter devastated amid T20 World Cup 2026
Your daily dose of cricket!
ENG vs NZ Match Preview:
Qualification pressure will intensify when England meet New Zealand in the forty-ninth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday, 27 February 2026. Moreover, this Group 2 Super 8 showdown will begin at 7:00 PM IST at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where crucial points remain at stake. Recent matches at this venue have favoured teams that bat first, as the surface tends to slow down later in the evening. Therefore, the toss could play a decisive role, especially with spin expected to dominate the middle overs.
England currently sit at the top of Group 2 with four points and have already sealed a semi-final berth after consecutive victories. In contrast, New Zealand hold three points and must win to confirm progression without depending on other outcomes. Furthermore, England edged past Pakistan in a tense encounter, while the Black Caps arrive after a commanding 61-run triumph over Sri Lanka that ended the hosts’ campaign. Consequently, England aim to preserve their unbeaten run, whereas New Zealand approach this fixture as a virtual knockout.
Mitchell Santner recently delivered an unbeaten 47 off 26 balls to revive New Zealand from 84 for 6, and Cole McConchie added 31 in a crucial partnership that lifted them to 168. Additionally, Rachin Ravindra claimed 4 for 27 to seal dominance. Meanwhile, Phil Salt struck 62 for England in their previous outing, and Will Jacks contributed three wickets to tilt the momentum. Historically, England lead the rivalry 17-10 in 30 meetings. However, New Zealand’s composure in ICC tournaments ensures that this encounter promises an intense and finely balanced battle.
ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
England |
17 |
|
New Zealand |
10 |
ENG vs NZ Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
28°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Clear Sky |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
|
Best Suited To |
Pace |
|
Average 1st innings score |
164 |
Record of chasing teams:
ENG vs NZ Playing 11s (Predicted):
England Playing 11:
1) Jos Buttler (wk)
2) Jacob Bethell
3) Philip Salt
4) Tom Banton
5) Harry Brook ©
6) Sam Curran
7) Liam Dawson
8) Jamie Overton
9) Will Jacks
10) Jofra Archer
11) Adil Rashid
New Zealand Playing 11:
1) Finn Allen
2) Rachin Ravindra
3) Tim Seifert (wk)
4) Glenn Phillips
5) Mark Chapman
6) Mitchell Santner ©
7) Daryl Mitchell
8) Cole McConchie
9) Matt Henry
10) Ish Sodhi
11) Lockie Ferguson
Hot Picks for ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Harry Brook – Influential captain and refined right-handed stroke-maker for England has amassed 202 runs in 6 matches, punctuated by a sensational maiden T20I century—100 off 51 balls—that propelled his side into the semi-finals. |
|
Rachin Ravindra – Talented left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler representing New Zealand has registered 114 runs and 5 wickets in 5 games, underlined by a decisive 4/27 and a crucial 32 that preserved semi-final aspirations. |
Top Picks:
|
Glenn Phillips – Accomplished right-handed batter and off-break option for New Zealand has produced 126 runs and taken 3 wickets in 5 fixtures, complementing his contributions with a tournament-leading 9 catches in the field. |
|
Will Jacks – Enterprising right-handed all-rounder and off-break specialist for England has compiled 120 runs and 4 wickets in 6 appearances, highlighted by a fluent 53 against Italy and a match-winning 3/14 against Sri Lanka. |
Budget Picks:
|
Lockie Ferguson – High-pace right-arm fast bowler for New Zealand has claimed 5 wickets in 5 outings, reinforcing his impact with a controlled 1/33 against South Africa while sustaining an economy rate under 7.00. |
|
Adil Rashid – Masterful right-arm leg-break bowler for England has secured 9 wickets in 6 matches, delivering a precise 2/13 against Sri Lanka and a decisive 1/31 versus Pakistan to seal a semi-final qualification. |
ENG vs NZ ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Rachin Ravindra & Harry Brook |
|
Vice-Captain |
Will Jacks & Glenn Phillips |
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Tim Seifert, Philip Salt, Finn Allen
- Batters – Rachin Ravindra ©, Harry Brook
- All-rounders – Mitchell Santner, Sam Curran, Glenn Phillips, Will Jacks (vc)
- Bowlers – Matt Henry, Jofra Archer
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Tim Seifert, Philip Salt
- Batters – Rachin Ravindra, Harry Brook ©
- All-rounders – Mitchell Santner, Sam Curran, Glenn Phillips (vc), Will Jacks
- Bowlers – Adil Rashid, Lockie Ferguson, Jofra Archer
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today Match 49 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Ben Duckett |
7.0 credits |
NA |
|
Mark Chapman |
7.5 credits |
NA |
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today Match 49 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Rachin Ravindra |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Harry Brook |
|
Punt Picks |
Adil Rashid and Lockie Ferguson |
|
Dream11 Combination |
3-2-4-2 |
ENG vs NZ Match Winner Prediction:
A blend of strong recent outings and past dominance makes England the likely winners.