To keep their hopes alive for the semi-finals, Sri Lanka faced New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, with both teams having to win. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen gave a great start to the Kiwis as their score was 10 runs per over in the first three overs. By the time the one who was aggressive among the two was dismissed by Mahesh Theekshana on the score of 23 runs in 13 balls.
Mahesh Theekshana took command from Sri Lanka
Theekshana accomplished this in his first over after dropping a crucial catch of Seifert before bowling his over. Seifert returned after scoring 8 runs in 9 balls. After Dushmantha Chameera picked Seifert, Glenn Phillips was dismissed immediately as the batsman was bowled by an excellent ball.
Later, Rachin Ravindra, who looked settled on the pitch, scored 32 runs from 22 balls, and went back to the dressing room with Theekshana taking his second wicket of the game. The Black Caps were down at 84/4. In the same over, Theekshana took his third wicket by dismissing Mark Chapman for zero.
Mitchell Santner is the hero of the Kiwi team
They struggled with three wickets falling in the span of zero runs. At one time from 84/3 to 84/6. Captain Mitchell Santner took charge and led from the front. Santner and Cole McConchie switched on from the 15th over, as both batsmen scored 78 runs in the last five overs. Both the batsmen made a partnership of 84 runs in 51 balls.
Both the batsmen first made a partnership and the team was struggling and it was not possible to score even 120 runs. Later, he changed gears, at one point Santner was batting at 6 runs from 12 balls, and then he changed his pace, scoring 47 runs from 26 balls, hitting one four and four sixes.
McConchie scored 31 runs in 23 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. They set a target of 168/7. Mahesh Theekshana was the best bowler with the score of 30/3. The spinner gave 9 runs in the first three overs, yet he gave 21 runs in his last over. Santner has really improved his batting in recent times and it has shown in the most important game for the Kiwis.
During the mid-innings show, McConchie praised Mitchell Santner’s style of batting. The former player said, “Batted well with a guy like Mitch, he calmed it down there. We were just confident we could make it on the backend. Great striking from Mitch.”
“Hopefully the bowlers can get some response from the wicket, the boys will be on the field today and we can defend this score. [On the crowd] It’s special to play in front of the home Sri Lankan crowd and hopefully we will shut them up quickly.”
Fans react to Mitchell Santner saving New Zealand’s innings
Mitchell Santner is a complete package…#NZvsSL #T20WorldCup
– Mohsin Sheikh (@mohsinsheikh88) 25 February 2026
Captain Mitchell Santner
-Bablu (@BabluCh31201102) 25 February 2026
This is different New Zealand
Earlier, Kiwis used to die in this situation or could not resist the fall but in this World Cup every time someone or the other is coming as a savior.
This time Santner and McConchie. #NZvsSL #SLvsNZpic.twitter.com/XkygLEKV6z– Unattainable Hindu (@itsSKS17) 25 February 2026
Mitchell Santner is a boon for the Kiwi team. He bats, bowls, fields and also captains the team. An ideal number 7 or 8 to have in any team.#T20WorldCup #NZvsSL
– Abhishek Sharma (@abhishek6259) 25 February 2026
When Mitchell Santner became a mature all-rounder, CSK let him go to MI.
– Gagan (@1no_aalsi_) 25 February 2026
Yesterday – Harry Brook steps up as captain for England.
Today- Mitchell Santner played a stormy innings with the bat for New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/reWToUSPii
– Ayaan (@yaaantweets69) 25 February 2026
Runs scored by captains of Super8 teams
Harry Brooke 듄드드드드드드-202 (6)
Aiden Markram – 182 (5)
Surya Kumar Yadav – 180 (5)
Shai Hope – 169 (4)
Sikandar Raza – 102 (4)
Dasun Shanaka – 86 (4)
Mitchell Santner – 68 (3)
Salman Agha – 60 (5)(number of innings)t
– Awais (@32whenn) 25 February 2026
Crazy Comeback
Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie scored 70 runs in the last 4 overs…#SLvsNZ pic.twitter.com/2VjCghEt9Q
– Arun Choudhary (@iarunchoudhary) 25 February 2026
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