T20 World Cup: Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra dismantle Sri Lanka, keep New Zealand in the hunt for semis

Colombo — New Zealand reignited their T20 World Cup ambitions with a ruthless 61-run victory over Sri Lanka at a heaving R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday night, a result engineered by a record-breaking seventh-wicket stand and a spinning stranglehold that reduced the hosts to their lowest power-play total of the tournament.

Sent in on a tacky surface, New Zealand flirted with collapse at 84 for 6 before Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie produced an audacious rescue act. The pair added 84 in 47 balls, 70 of them coming in the last four overs, to drag their side to 168 for 7. Santner’s career-best T20I knock of 47 off 26 balls featured slog-swept sixes off the previously frugal Maheesh Theekshana, while McConchie’s unbeaten 31 was a masterclass in late-order placement and bottom-hand power.

Sri Lanka’s reply unravelled instantly. Matt Henry uprooted Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the innings and added Charith Asalanka in a wicket-maiden second over. At 20 for 2 after six overs, the chase was already in tatters. Lockie Ferguson maintained the choke with pace and discipline, but it was Rachin Ravindra’s left-arm spin that turned tension into procession. Varying flight and pace, the 24-year-old claimed four wickets in 17 balls — Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake stumped, Dasun Shanaka caught cutting, Dushan Hemantha bowled — to finish with 4 for 27. Kamindu Mendis top-scored with 31, yet the last rites were administered by Santner himself, ending the innings at 107 with an over to spare.

The win lifts New Zealand’s net run-rate and keeps them firmly in the Super Eight scramble; for Sri Lanka, elimination is confirmed but the party in the stands rolled on long after the final wicket, drums and trumpets serenading a team whose fans refuse to leave even in defeat.

Brief Scores New Zealand 168 for 7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3 for 30) Sri Lanka 107 for 8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4 for 27, Matt Henry 2 for 14)