new zealand Kept their semi-final dreams alive and effectively defeated the co-hosts Sri Lanka out of t20 world cup 2026 With a spectacular 61-run win in Colombo on February 25, 2026. was the hero of the night Rachin RavindraWhose all-round talent R. Turned a precarious situation into a dominant win at the Premadasa Stadium. This victory boosts morale new zealandNet run rate is quite important as they are entering a crucial final Super 8 clash England. For Sri Lanka, their domestic campaign ended on a disappointing note with a second consecutive defeat in the Super 8s, sealing their exit from the tournament.
Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie save New Zealand after Mahesh Theekshana’s triple strike
New Zealand’s innings was a tale of two halves, recovering from a poor middle-order collapse to post a strong score of 168/7 on the challenging Colombo surface. After choosing to bowl, Sri Lanka took early control Mahesh Theekshanawhich created a fantastic 3/30 spell while removing the dangerous finn allen (23) and mark chapman For a duck.
Rachin Ravindra He looked attractive while providing some stability during his innings of 32 runs from 22 balls, but when Dushmantha Chameera rejected glen phillips (18), Black Caps score was 84/6 in the 13th over. However, the game changed dramatically during the 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket michel santner And Cole McConchieWho gave away 70 runs in the last four overs alone. Santner played a captaincy innings, scoring 47 runs in just 26 balls, which included four big sixes that hit short leg-side boundaries.
McConchie provided full support with an unbeaten 31, ensuring New Zealand headed into the break with the momentum firmly intact. The onslaught in the late overs stunned the Sri Lankan bowlers, as they abandoned their position of total dominance to settle for a total that was well above the ground’s average first innings score.
Rachin Ravindra’s four wickets crush Sri Lankan T20 World Cup 2026 hopes in Colombo
Defending 168 runs, New Zealand produced a brilliant bowling performance to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 107 runs, with Rachin proving to be the architect of the collapse. The chase for the co-hosts got off to a disastrous start matt henry taken out Pathum Nissanka Out on the very first ball of the innings, out after this charit asalanka To leave the hosts at 6/2.
Ravindra then took center stage with his left-arm orthodox spin, claiming a sensational 4/27 that rattled the Sri Lankan middle order. he removed first Kusal Mendis (11) and Pawan Rathnayake (10) In the same over, both were beaten by flight and turn before being expertly stumped by Tim Seifert. Ravindra continued his havoc by dismissing the captain. Dasun Shanaka And Dushan HemanthaEffectively ending any realistic chances of a return to the home team.
Despite fighting 31 Kamindu Mendis and it’s late by 29 Dunith VillageThe required run rate exceeded 15, forcing the batsmen to play desperation shots, resulting in a flurry of wickets. Santner wraps up his brilliant day by dismissing Kamindu Mendis glen phillips Polished the tail to seal a 61-run win. With this win, New Zealand has moved up by two points. PakistanSetting up a thrilling finale in Group 2, as Sri Lanka became the first team to be officially eliminated from the Super 8 stage.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Why did Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to field at RPS Colombo? After failing to chase 146 against England in the last game?
When the team has lost confidence in chasing the target, the batting is looking fragile and the pitch has turn, then why chase the target?
This question was raised during this time…
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 25 February 2026
– Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 25 February 2026
Massive momentum change in the game. In my opinion the spectacular rally by the Kiwis has made Sri Lanka a difficult target. 169 is definitely 25 too many on this surface.
– Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) 25 February 2026
Sri Lanka is actually at a low level since 2015. It is sad to see that the country which once produced players like Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Malinga, Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Vaas etc. is now at the bottom.
– Yang Goi (@GongR1ght) 25 February 2026
If:
-Pakistan won against Sri Lanka with better NRR
– and New Zealand lost to EnglandPakistan will reach the semi-finals.
But this will not happen because we have full faith in Pakistan.– Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdulla_0mar) 25 February 2026
New Zealand ensured the following things –
-Pakistan out of World Cup
-No semi-finals and final in Sri Lanka– Sunil Cricketer (@1sInto2s) 25 February 2026
Sri Lanka to Pakistan: We will drown Sanam, we will take you along with us
Lanka out of this World Cup. Pakistan is completely out. #SLvsNZ #ICCT20WorldCup
– Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 25 February 2026
New Zealand has eliminated Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup and has put Pakistan on the verge of elimination.
Fans can now buy tickets for the two semi-finals in Kolkata and Mumbai and then the final in Ahmedabad.– Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) 25 February 2026
Victory in Colombo💥
Matt Henry set the tone with 2-3 from his 2 overs, while Rachin Ravindra took 4-27 from his 4 overs🔥
📷=ICC/Getty#SLVNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VlGbcNBdfu
– Blackcaps (@BLACKCAPS) 25 February 2026
Rachin Ravindra stole the show 🌟🇳🇿🔥
Won POTM for match-winning all-round performance 🏆💥
32 runs on 22 balls with the bat 🏏✓ 4 overs • 27 runs • 4 wickets 🎯🔥#T20WorldCup2026 #Rachinarvindra #Sri Lanka #Cricket #newzealand #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/k5tJTjflJT
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 25 February 2026
