New Zealand produced yet another all-round show to thrash Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. Asked to bat first, the Black Caps steadied after a mid-innings wobble to post a competitive score and then their bowlers methodically unpick the Sri Lankan batting order with control.
The visitors began with intent, though, chiefly through Finn Allen, who gave a rapid start in the powerplay. Tristan Ravindra steadied the innings then with a fluent knock, rotating strike smartly and finding boundaries at crucial junctures. Sri Lanka fought back in the middle overs with Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera constantly breaking through, while also controlling the scoring.
Just when it looked like New Zealand might not reach a sizable total, captain Mitchell Santner turned up the heat in the death overs, superbly. His aggressive strokeplay – alongside a calm finishing touch from Cole McConchie – ensured there were enough runs to score well beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase started as poorly as it could in the first over itself with an early wicket. The top order wobbled against New Zealand’s extracted discipline and the required run rate continued to rise. There were no partnerships and the pressure led to regular wickets.
Rachin Ravindra rounded off a terrific day by producing a match-defining spell, getting rid of key middle-order batters and snuffing out any hopes of a recovery. Sri Lanka found no rhythm in the chase, thanks to the spin duo that was well supported by tight fielding and smart keeping.
New Zealand consolidated their position in the Super 8 standings with an emphatic victory while underlining the depth and balance of their squad. For Sri Lanka, though, they’ll have to regroup quickly and resolve their batting flaws as the tournament heads into its knockout phase.
