T20 World Cup: New Zealand outclass Sri Lanka to eliminate co-hosts
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Sri Lanka have been knocked out of the T20 World Cup at the Super 8 stage after a 61-run defeat to New Zealand in Colombo.
A fine partnership between Black Caps skipper Mitchell Santner (47 off 26) and Cole McConchie (31no) helped New Zealand set a target of 169, and Sri Lanka fell short in their chase, reaching 107-8.
New Zealand were put into bat first and saw openers Tim Seifert (8) and Finn Allen (23) both dismissed in the powerplay, before Dushmantha Chameera (3-38) bowled Glenn Phillips out on 18.
Maheesh Theekshana (3-30) removed Rachin Ravindra (32) and Mark Chapman (0) in the space of three deliveries, while Dunith Wellalage (1-27) bowled Daryl Mitchell (3) in the following over.
However, Santner and McConchie put on a partnership of 84 from 47 balls to swing the momentum back in New Zealand's favour, and their confidence grew further when Matt Henry (2-3) sent Pathum Nissanka's stumps flying with the first ball of Sri Lanka's innings.
Ravindra (4-27) then rattled through the Sri Lanka lineup, with Kamindu Mendis (31) and Wellalage (29) unable to spark a revival for the tournament co-hosts.
New Zealand will face England, who top the group, in their final Super 8s match.
Victory in Colombo
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 25, 2026
Matt Henry set the tone with 2-3 off his 2 overs as Rachin Ravindra picked up 4-27 off his 4 overs
= ICC/Getty#SLvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VlGbcNBdfu
Data Debrief: Black Caps duo make T20 World Cup history
Ravindra's career-best T20I figures of 4-27 moved New Zealand a step closer to the semi-finals, but it was the partnership between Santner and McConchie that set the tone for the Black Caps at R Premadasa Stadium.
Indeed, their 84-run stand is the highest seventh-wicket partnership at the men's T20 World Cup, surpassing Michael Hussey and Steve Smith's 74-run stand for Australia in 2010.
It was a nightmare start with the bat for Sri Lanka, who posted their lowest-ever total in the powerplay in the competition (20-2), and second-lowest overall in a T20I (after 18-3 against India in 2022).
