ICC T20 World Cup: New Zealand’s resounding fightback knocks Sri Lanka out of the tournament | Cricket News

However that’s precisely the way it felt for the primary third of Wednesday’s match earlier than the Lankans had been trounced by 61 runs to exit the match with a whimper. Having decreased the Kiwis – who had been enjoying their first match of the match within the nation and working chilly after their match in opposition to Pakistan was washed out – to 84 for six by the thirteenth over, the match was there for the taking for the co-hosts.

As a substitute, a powerful rearguard partnership from New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie would add the identical variety of runs – their stand of 84 being the best seventh-wicket stand at a T20 World Cup – to take the Kiwis to a aggressive whole of 168 for 7.

Till then, it had been the Lankan spinners ruling the roost. Maheesh Theekshana recovered from dropping a catch early on by holding on to at least one from Finn Allen off his personal bowling, opening the floodgates. The Kiwis had been stored to 44 for two within the Powerplay, their lowest this World Cup. Subsequent partnerships had been frequently damaged by Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, who got here again from an early beating to fort Daryl Mitchell.

Santner walked in with the job of saving the Kiwis’ marketing campaign within the match. Fortunately for him, the overs of spin had been coming to an finish and he acquired to tonk the pacers.

Dushmantha Chameera had been among the many wickets however each Santner and McConchie focused him with artful manipulation sq. of the wicket, both flicking over the leg-side or timing pictures behind level. The technique upset the Lankan ways, following which they completely misplaced their self-discipline. As many as 70 runs got here within the remaining 4 overs.

That the harm was finished, and the stress had transferred onto the hosts, turned clear proper firstly of the chase. Matt Henry despatched down a ripper to take down Nissanka’s middle-stump, following which the Lankan batting retreated into itself. An over later, Charith Asalanka mistimed an off-pace cutter from Henry; and Lanka had been enjoying catch-up from there, ending the Powerplay at 20 for two.

Whereas Theekshana was only for the hosts, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra proved to be mighty for the Kiwis. He’s within the aspect for his top-order batting, however his helpful left-arm finger-spin continues to be efficient. He completed his four-over spell with career-best figures of 4 for 27, every of his wickets placing Lankans more and more behind the sport.

By the point Wellalage hit the one six of the second innings, the match was successfully over. The gradual crawl to 107 for 8 solely strengthened New Zealand’s place additional, inflicting such an enormous uptick of their web run price that even a defeat to England of their subsequent sport might not stop their progress into the semifinal, leaving Pakistan within the lurch.

Temporary Scores: New Zealand 168/7 in 20 overs (Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30) beat Sri Lanka 107/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4/27) by 61 runs.