New Zealand Fight Back to Eliminate Cohosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup

Colombo—A blistering counter-attack from stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner and a four-wicket haul from Rachin Ravindra powered New Zealand to a 61-run victory over Sri Lanka on Wednesday night, ending the cohosts’ T20 World Cup campaign at the Super Eights stage.

Sent in to bat at a raucous R Premadasa Stadium, New Zealand wobbled badly when Maheesh Theekshana’s double strike left them 84-6 in the 13th over. Santner arrived and immediately changed the complexion of the innings, muscling 47 off only 26 balls and sharing an unbroken 84-run stand with Cole McConchie, who finished 31 not out. The pair looted 70 from the final four overs, dragging their side to 168-7.

“We wanted 130 on the board, but to get 160 was nice,” Santner said. “It was pretty tough early on, so we had to give ourselves a bit of time.”

Sri Lanka’s chase unravelled instantly. Matt Henry struck with the first ball, bowling Pathum Nissanka for a duck, and then removed Charith Asalanka with a cleverly-disguised slower delivery. Ravindra spun the dagger deeper, claiming four wickets for 27 runs, including a double-strike over in which Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped. At 29-4 in the ninth over the contest was effectively over, despite a late flurry from Kamindu Mendis (31) and Dunith Wellalage (29) that carried the hosts to 107-8.

“It’s embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd,” admitted Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka. “We wanted to restrict them to 130, but they played really well.”

The defeat leaves Sri Lanka winless in the Super Eights and out of the tournament, while New Zealand move to three points and keep their semi-final hopes alive behind already-qualified England, who sit atop Group 2 with four points.