New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 61 runs to knock the co-hosts out of the T20 World Cup and boost their own semi-final hopes.
Sri Lanka failed to chase down a target of 169 set by New Zealand as they stuttered to 107-8 in reply to the Black Caps’ 168-7. With two defeats from their opening two Super 8s matches, Sri Lanka are out of the competition.
As for New Zealand, they may still need to beat England this Friday to ensure a semi-final spot as Pakistan could overhaul them on net run rate if they thrash Sri Lanka in their last Super 8s game.
England are already into the last four after their two Super 8s wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“It’s embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd, they’ve been very supportive,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.
“We wanted to restrict them to 130 but, to be honest, they played really well so we must give them credit.”
Shanaka won the toss and elected to bowl and New Zealand reached a competitive 168-7 thanks to Mitchell Santner’s 47 runs off 26 deliveries and Cole McConchie’s 31 off 23 deliveries which salvaged the innings.
The Sri Lankan bowlers had restricted New Zealand to 84-6 and had their opponents at 90-6 after 15 overs when the No 7 pair started counter-attacking.
McChonchie scored 18 runs in the 17th over, bowled by fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, and spinner Maheesh Theekshana conceded 21, including two wides, in the 18th. When Santner was out in the last ball the pair had added 80 runs off 43 deliveries.
New Zealand’s Cole McConchie starred against Sri Lanka (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Santner hit four sixes and two boundaries while McChonchie hit two sixes and three boundaries while Chameera and Theekshana took three wickets each.
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Hendry bowled opener Pathum Nissanka in the first ball and Charith Asalanka, who had been recalled for the match, soon departed to Sri Lanka 6-2.
Then the spinners tightened the screws by bowling slow through the air and curtailing runs and taking wickets when the batters tried to attack.
Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra took a career-best 4-27 while Henry took two wickets for three runs.
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