New Zealand have strengthened their chances of securing a semi-final berth at the T20 World Cup 2026 after knocking Sri Lanka out of the competition. On Wednesday, February 25, Mitchell Santner’s men delivered a dominant performance to beat the co-hosts by 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The Black Caps’ victory has left Pakistan in deep trouble heading into their final league match against Sri Lanka. To qualify, Pakistan must not only defeat Sri Lanka but also hope England beat New Zealand in their last Super 8 fixture. Even then, their progression will not be guaranteed, as net run rate could determine which of the two sides advances to the semi-finals with England already in the top four.
New Zealand had a few nervy moments during the contest against Sri Lanka, but Cole McConchie and Mitchell Santner steadied the innings before the spinners seized control. Rachin Ravindra then produced a superb spell, troubling the Sri Lankan batters with his guile and variations to keep the Black Caps firmly on top.
For Sri Lanka, it marked the fifth successive T20 World Cup in which they have failed to reach the semi-finals since lifting the title in 2014.
After being asked to bat first, New Zealand posted 168 for seven, a total that would have looked unlikely had Cole McConchie and Mitchell Santner not rescued them in a moment of crisis. The Kiwis began fluently, with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen adding 30 runs for the opening wicket. However, Sri Lanka hit back strongly — Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Allen before Dushmantha Chameera removed the dangerous Seifert.
Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings with a 41-run stand for the third wicket. But just as they looked set to accelerate, New Zealand suffered a dramatic collapse, slipping from 75 for two to 84 for six, losing four wickets for just nine runs in the space of 17 balls.
Theekshana was outstanding, finishing with figures of 4-0-30-3, as Sri Lanka seized control. With the momentum firmly with the hosts, McConchie and Santner turned the tide. The pair stitched together a crucial 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket off just 47 balls, reviving New Zealand’s innings and shifting the momentum back in their favour.
