New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, right, celebrates with his teammates after the wicket of Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, center, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo) TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: New Zealand kept their World T20 campaign alive with an impressive 61-run victory over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, a result shaped by composure under pressure with the bat, clinical accuracy with the ball and an atmosphere driven relentlessly by Sri Lankan fans who refused to run away even as the contest slipped away from their team.Long after the outcome seemed inevitable, the stands remained full, the drums continued to beat and the trumpets echoed through the night in Colombo. Every boundary was still applauded, every piece of good standing in the field acknowledged. Wins and losses have never defined Sri Lankan fandom and even when their World Cup campaign ended, loyalty did not waver. Coverage of a match in Sri Lanka is rarely just about cricket. It feels like a festival and this night the celebration continued despite the pain.
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Santner, McConchie turn the innings
Earlier, when visitors swung to bat on a surface that offered grip and variable bounce, they began with intent. Finn Allen made a sharp attack on Dilshan Madushanka and took the move with instinctive aggression. But as quickly as the pace rose, it fell as quickly. Allen’s dismissal sparked a brief wobble, Tim Seifert soon followed and Sri Lanka sensed an opening.Rachin Ravindra brought fluidity to the middle overs, spin hitting and the occasional boundary finder, but the introduction of spin shifted the balance significantly. Maheesh Theekshana, operating with subtle changes of pace and trajectory, stifled New Zealand’s chances to score. Ravindra fell too flat when attempting a cut hit, Mark Chapman was lost by spin and bounce and Daryl Mitchell was beaten by a slip rather than a corkscrew. From a comfortable position of 75 for 2, New Zealand slumped to 84 for 6 in nine deliveries.It was here that Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie stepped in to save the innings. The approach was uncomplicated and clear. Survival came first. Boundaries were not chased, singles were awarded and dot balls were absorbed without panic. McConchie, playing his first major role in the tournament, broke his 33-ball drought late in the 16th over with a sharp strike over the infield. The release was immediate. Santner followed an early length read and aimed for the shorter leg boundary with authority. The change in momentum was sudden and decisive. Santner went after Theekshana, who was Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler till then. McConchie matched him blow for blow, using clever bat angles and powerful bottom strokes to exploit the gaps behind square.What started as a recovery turned into a late surge. The seventh-wicket pair plundered 70 runs in the final four overs, turning New Zealand’s total from fragile to formidable. Santner’s 47 off 26 balls anchored the charge while McConchie’s unbeaten 31 ensured there was no late collapse. Together they added 84 off 47 deliveries to lift New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7.
Henry builds a defense
In response, the Sri Lankan chase never quite found its feet and was cut short on the first ball. Matt Henry bowled Pathum Nissanko with a delivery that came back jaggedly and hit mid-stump. It was a classic throw out of the bowlers and a psychological blow that stunned the packed house.Henry followed it up with a wicket and then struck again with the first ball of his second over, removing Charith Asalanka. Two overs, two wickets and just three runs conceded summed up his impact. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, their lowest total of the tournament, and the uphill climb got steeper with each over.The pressure never let up. Lockie Ferguson’s pace added urgency without sacrificing control, while Santner and Ish Sodhi closed down scoring options at either end. The fielding mirrored the intensity of the bowling, sharp catching and athletic work in the ring ensured Sri Lanka were forced to take chances rather than accumulate.The decisive blow came from Rachin Ravindra whose left arm spin turned the pressure into a collapse. Ravindra varied his pace and width smartly, luring the batsmen out of their crease and letting Tim Seifert shine behind the stumps. Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped, beaten by flight, drift and turn. Ravindra struck again when Dasun Shanaka finished with a cut to complete his four-wicket haul by dismissing Dushan Hemanth. His figures of 4 for 27 reflected not only the wickets but also the ability to sense panic and exploit it ruthlessly.Kamindu Mendis offered a brief resistance but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell ensured the chances were taken, Santner came on to close the innings and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 107.For New Zealand, the win means more than ending Sri Lanka’s campaign. It keeps their own semi-final hopes alive in the hotly contested Super Eight stage. Their plan is now clear. Strike early with the new ball, choke through the middle overs and trust the depth in their batting to recover from adversity.For Sri Lanka, the tournament ends in disappointment, but also a reminder of what remains unbreakable. Even as the final wickets fell, the crowd stayed. The band played on, the trumpets sounded and the applause continued. The result belonged to New Zealand, but as always in Colombo, the night belonged to the fans.A brief score New Zealand: 168/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30, Dushmantha Chameera 3/38)Sri Lanka: 107/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4/27, Matt Henry 2/14)
