T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Match 46, Super Eight – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

Colombo, 26 February 2026 — New Zealand produced a stunning reversal of fortune to defeat Sri Lanka by 61 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium, ending the hosts’ T20 World Cup campaign and booking their own path deeper into the Super Eight stage.

Sent in to bat, the Black Caps wobbled badly after a promising start. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert departed inside the Powerplay, and when the middle order folded New Zealand had slumped to 84 for 6 in the 12th over. Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera kept the screws tight, but they could not account for Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie. The pair unleashed a tournament-record 84-run seventh-wicket stand off just 47 balls, dragging their side to 168 for 7. Santner’s 47 from 26 deliveries featured two fours and four sixes and carried him past the 1,000-run milestone in T20I cricket; McConchie finished 31 not out as 70 runs came from the last four overs.

Sri Lanka’s reply never found momentum. Matt Henry removed a wicket in the opening over, and Rachin Ravindra’s left-arm spin proved unplayable on the slow surface. Ravindra claimed a career-best 4 for 27, twice striking with successive deliveries as Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped after misreading his extra bounce. Dasun Shanaka and Dushan Hemantha fell attempting forcing shots, and the innings subsided to 107 for 8, sealing the hosts’ exit.

Ravindra, who earlier contributed a brisk 32 off 22 with the bat, was named Player of the Match for his all-round display.

New Zealand now turn their attention to England, whom they face on 27 February in Colombo, while Sri Lanka travel to Pallekele for a dead-rubber meeting with Pakistan on 28 February.

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