Sri Lanka and New Zealand will face each other in a very important Super 8 match on Wednesday where the race for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup is on. England sealed one of the two semi-final places from Group 2 on Tuesday with their two-wicket win over Pakistanso only one is played and three teams fight for it.
The Super 8 Group 2 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match will start at 7 PM IST. JioHotstar and Star Sports will provide live coverage and telecast of the match.
The game became a do-or-die situation for Sri Lanka as a defeat would knock them out of the competition. New Zealand, on the other hand, will not want to leave it too late and would like to keep one foot in the door in terms of semi-final qualification. Pakistan will also be watching the match closely as their chances of progressing will depend on the clash.
CAN SRI LANKA Bounce Back?
Sri Lanka won the title back in 2014 but have struggled ever since, failing to qualify for the semi-finals even once. Sri Lanka started the ongoing edition with three wins on the bounce and looked threatening. Their momentum came to a halt when Zimbabwe beat them by six wickets. But a 51 run defeat against England was particularly disappointing as they were bowled out for 95 while chasing 147.
However, Sri Lanka is determined to respond. In the pre-match press conference, Dunith Wellalage said the co-hosts will go all out against the Black Caps in a bid to make the nation proud.
“If you look at our recent performances, we have won several matches convincingly as a team and the players have performed well individually. This World Cup is extremely important for our country,” Wellalage said.
“As a unit, every player is determined to give more than 100 per cent for the nation whenever we step on the pitch. We are fully committed to give everything we have for the team. Starting with tomorrow’s game, we hope to put in a strong performance and put on a game that will make our country proud,” Wellalage added.
NEW ZEALAND SEARCH EDIT
These are challenging times for New Zealand. They played all their matches in the group stage in Ahmedabad and Chennai where the pitches were suitable for batting. However, the Super 8 stage presents a completely different challenge as all three of their matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka.
The surfaces in Colombo and Pallekele were not as batting friendly as in India, requiring more adaptability.
The Kiwis were also denied valuable exposure when their opening Super 8 clash with Pakistan was washed out due to rain. Had this match gone ahead, New Zealand would have gained first-hand experience of batting conditions in Sri Lanka and how they contrasted with those in India.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the match, captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged that success will depend on how quickly the Black Caps can adapt to the new conditions.
“When you pick a squad of 15, you do so knowing that you can play in either country – on slightly slower wickets or on flat bats. So it’s important to have all bases covered, including the strong spin options we believe we have. In the end, it comes down to how quickly you can adapt once you step on the field,” Santner said.
“Traditionally, the surfaces here can be slow, but they can also play well – or be really slow at times. It’s about reading the conditions quickly and reacting better than the opposition. Whichever team adapts best will be in a very strong position in the tournament,” Santner added.
In 2024, New Zealand failed to advance from the group stage, but the Kiwis have been fairly solid in this tournament so far. Santner’s men understand that if they can adapt to the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka, they have a good chance of securing a place in the semi-finals. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be desperate to avoid another exit before the knockout stages.
NZ vs SL: HEAD-TO-HEAD
New Zealand have generally had the upper hand over Sri Lanka in their T20I history. However, in the T20 World Cups, it is Sri Lanka who have the edge over the Black Caps. The last time the two sides met in a T20I was in January 2025 when Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by seven runs at the Saxton Oval in Nelson.
Overall
Matches – 28, New Zealand – 16, Sri Lanka – 11, N/R – 1
In the T20 World Cup
Matches – 6, New Zealand – 2, Sri Lanka – 4, N/R – 0
SPACING AND CONDITIONS IN COLOMBO
The field at Premadasa has been sporting so far, with an average first innings score of 162 in the five matches played. Four of those matches were won by the teams batting first before Zimbabwe became the first side to successfully chase down the venue, defeating Sri Lanka. However, in a high-pressure competition, captains may still prefer to bat first.
There is no immediate threat of rain, although occasional cloud cover is expected. Temperatures will be around 28 degrees Celsius with humidity around 70, which is typical testing conditions.
NZ vs SL: PREDICTED XI
New Zealand XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 25, 2026
