Rachin Ravindra produced a match-winning bowling performance, claiming 4 for 27, as New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 61 runs in their Group 2 Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.
With this dominant victory, New Zealand moved closer to securing a spot in the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka were officially knocked out of the tournament despite having one match left to play.
Sri Lanka Collapse in Run Chase
Chasing 169, Sri Lanka suffered a disastrous start, crawling to 20/2 in the powerplay and never recovering from the early setbacks.
Ravindra tore through the fragile middle order, exposing Sri Lanka’s batting woes and restricting the co-hosts to a disappointing 107/8 in their 20 overs.
Santner, McConchie Rescue New Zealand After Collapse
Earlier, New Zealand endured a dramatic middle-order collapse, slipping from 75/2 to 84/6, including a shocking phase where they lost three wickets without adding a single run.
Skipper Mitchell Santner (47) and Cole McConchie (31 )* then mounted a crucial recovery, stitching together a vital partnership to guide the Black Caps to 168/7, which proved more than enough.
New Zealand Strengthen Semi-Final Push
The emphatic win makes New Zealand the front-runners for the remaining semi-final spot in Group 2, significantly denting Pakistan’s already slim qualification chances.
Match Summary
- New Zealand: 168/7
- Sri Lanka: 107/8 (chasing 169)
- Result: New Zealand won by 61 runs
- Player of the Match: Rachin Ravindra (4/27)