COLOMBO — In a high-stakes Super 8 encounter at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, New Zealand produced a clinical performance to defeat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 61 runs, effectively ending the home side’s tournament journey.
Match Highlights
New Zealand, batting first, posted a competitive total of 168/7 in their 20 overs. After an early top-order struggle left the Kiwis at 84/6, a crucial partnership between captain Mitchell Santner (47 off 26) and Cole McConchie (31 not out) revitalized the innings, adding 70 runs in the final four overs to set a challenging target.
Rachin Ravindra’s Spin Masterclass
The pursuit for Sri Lanka never gathered momentum, largely due to a masterful spell of spin bowling by Rachin Ravindra. Fresh off a valuable contribution with the bat, Ravindra dismantled the Sri Lankan middle order with a series of outstanding deliveries, finishing with exceptional figures of 4/27.
His ability to vary pace and flight turned the pitch into a web for the host batters, who struggled to read his variations. His performance included key dismissals, notably removing Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, and captain Dasun Shanaka, which effectively shattered any hopes of a Sri Lankan recovery. Matt Henry also set the tone early, removing Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the chase.
Tournament Implications
With this victory, New Zealand significantly boosted their Net Run Rate (NRR) to +3.050, keeping their semifinal qualification hopes very much alive. For co-hosts Sri Lanka, the defeat marks a disappointing end to their campaign, as they are now mathematically eliminated from the tournament.