New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Standings: New Zealand national cricket team eliminated Sri Lanka national cricket team from the ICC T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory in a Super Eights Group 2 match on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
New Zealand recovered from 84 for 6 to post 168 for 7 after captain Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie combined for an 84-run seventh-wicket partnership off just 51 balls — the highest seventh-wicket stand in T20 World Cup history.
Santner struck 47, while McConchie launched a late assault that produced 70 runs in the final four overs. Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana had earlier triggered a collapse with figures of 3 for 30, reducing New Zealand’s top and middle order on a turning surface at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka never recovered from the late onslaught.
Matt Henry struck with the first ball of the chase, removing Pathum Nissanka with a sharp inswinger, and dismissed Charith Asalanka in his next over. Sri Lanka slumped to 20 for 2 at the end of the powerplay — the lowest powerplay total of the tournament.
Rachin Ravindra then dismantled the middle order with career-best figures of 4 for 19, exploiting the spin-friendly conditions. Kamindu Mendis top-scored with 31 and Dunith Wellalage added 29, but Sri Lanka finished on 107 for 8 in 20 overs.
New Zealand relied heavily on spin, using five different slow-bowling options and delivering only three overs of seam — the fewest in a completed T20 international innings for the side.
The victory strengthened New Zealand’s push toward the semifinals, while Sri Lanka were knocked out of the tournament after back-to-back defeats in the Super Eights.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 168 for 7 (Santner 47, Ravindra 32; Theekshana 3-30, Chameera 3-38)
Sri Lanka 107 for 8 (Kamindu 31, Wellalage 29; Ravindra 4-19, Henry 2-3)
New Zealand won by 61 runs.
Super 8 – Group 1 Standings
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Tied | Net RR | Points |
|---|
| 1 | West Indies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +5.350 | 2 |
| 2 | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +3.800 | 2 |
| 3 | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -3.800 | 0 |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -5.350 | 0 |
Super 8 – Group 2 Standings
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Tied | Net RR | Points |
|---|
| Q1 | England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1.491 | 4 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +3.050 | 3 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.461 | 1 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -2.800 | 0 |
