COLOMBO: Rachin Ravindra rose to the occasion for New Zealand when it mattered most, handing the Black Caps a massive win over hosts Sri Lanka in the Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Set a challenging 169, Sri Lanka could only muster 107-8 at the end of their 20 overs.
Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra combined to inflict a miserable start on Sri Lanka, leaving them two down in the first two overs.
The Islanders’ main batter, Pathum Nissanka, was castled on the very first delivery of the innings, which set the tone for what was to come.
The wicket was followed by another, this time Charith Asalanka, who was caught cheaply in a bid to slog sweep. The former captain could only manage five.
With the Islanders in trouble at 6-2 in 2.1 overs, Kusal Mendis (11) and Pavan Rathnayake (10) tried to put the chase back on track. The pair did manage to arrest the slide but chewed up several overs as New Zealand kept it tight.
The tight overs never allowed the pair to free their arms, and as a result, they were reeling at 28 in eight overs.
The clinical bowling display from New Zealand yielded high rewards for them as Ravindra snapped two wickets in an over to leave Sri Lanka in a big mess with 29-4.
The woes were further compounded when skipper Dasun Shanaka was caught for three, pushing the 2014 champions to the brink.
Sri Lanka were hoping for a miracle that never happened, and wickets continued to tumble at short intervals.
Kamindu Mendis remained the top scorer with 31 from 23 while Dunith Wellalage managed 29 off 23 balls with the aid of a six and three fours, which only reduced the margin of defeat for Sri Lanka.
For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra stood tall amongst the bowlers with four wickets in his quota, whereas Matt Henry took two wickets in a clinical bowling display.
The victory margin gives New Zealand a huge chance to qualify for the semi-final if they beat England, while Pakistan will be hoping for the result to go their way.
Earlier, Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana spun a web around the New Zealand batting lineup, but skipper Mitchell Santner’s gutsy knock lifted them to a strong total.
Asked to bat first here at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, New Zealand managed to post 168-7 in their 20 overs.
Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were off the block quickly, racing to 30 runs in 3.3 overs before Dushmantha Chameera struck to break the opening stand.
Tim Seifert made eight from nine balls and was caught at deep square leg.
Following an early wicket, Maheesh Theekshana also came into action, picking up the prized wicket of Finn Allen to jolt the BlackCaps. Allen was caught and bowled after scoring 23 off 11 with the aid of a six and three fours.
As a result, New Zealand were reduced to 34-2 in 4.4 overs.
The wickets brought Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to the crease. The pair stabilized the innings with a 41-run partnership. Both batters looked settled, with New Zealand eyeing a big total as the scorecard read 75 in 9.3 overs.
However, Maheen Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage bowled in tandem to spark a mini collapse, leaving New Zealand six down in the span of eight runs.
The collapse left New Zealand in dire straits, 84-6 in 12.1 overs.
But it was Captain’s knock from Mitchell Santner alongside Cole McConchie for the eighth wicket that not only lifted them out of trouble but also put them in a commanding position.
The pair took the score from 84 to 168 at the end of the 20 overs, with Santner caught brilliantly on the last ball of the innings.
Santner 47 from 26 included four sixes and two fours, while McConchie remained unbeaten on 31 from 23, striking two sixes and three fours.
For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana shared six wickets between them.
