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T20 WC New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: McConchie, Santner rally NZ to 168

Wed, 25 February 2026

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20:51

McConchie, Santner rally New Zealand to 168

New Zealand 168-7 (20 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Chameera to bowl the final over. He starts with a wide yorker which beats Santner as he looks to smash it on the leg side.

The next ball is a full toss as Chameera misses his length and Santner lofts it straight down the ground for a six.

The boundaries continue to flow for New Zealand with 64 coming from the last 20 balls.

Santner is beaten on the outside edge off another wide yorker as Sri Lanka take the review for caught behind but there is nothing on the UltraEdge.

Santner then drives a full toss to deep extra cover and McConchie does well to rush back for the second.

Another full toss as Santner does well to fetch it from outside the line of off-stump and swipe in the gap at midwicket for a four despite not middling it.

Chameera brings Sri Lanka some relief with the wicket of Santner off the last ball. The left-hander drives the full delivery uppishly as Asalanka comes up with a stunning catch in the covers, diving to his right.

Captain Santner walks after a stunning knock of 47 from 26 balls, with four sixes and two fours.

He along with McConchie turned the New Zealand innings on its head, putting on 84 from 47 balls for the seventh wicket.

McConchie was instrumental in New Zealand's amazing recovery with a fine innings of 31 from 23 balls. He got New Zealand back on track, hitting Chameera for two sixes and a four in the 17th over.

It was an unbelievable turnaround from the Kiwis, who were reeling on 84/6 at one stage after losing three wickets in five balls.

However, they turned things around in grand style with 70 coming from the last four overs.

20:42

McConchie-Santner rally NZ

New Zealand 156-6 (19 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Madushanka back to bowl the 19th over. He starts with a low full toss which McConchie steers fine past short thirdman for a four followed by a wide.

McConchie carves the next over point for a single and Santner hits the next to long-on for two runs followed by a wide down the leg side.

Madushanka gifts Santner a full toss which he easily despatches over long-on for a six to take New Zealand past the 150-run mark.

A high bouncer is ruled a wide to add to New Zealand's total before Santner slaps a full delivery through midwicket for two runs and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

New Zealand continue their fine recovery with 19 coming from the 19th over.

20:34

McConchie-Santner rally New Zealand

New Zealand 137-6 (18 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Theekshana back in the attack to bowl the 18th over. He starts with a wide on the off-side to Santner as the wicketkeeper fails to gather to concede another extra run.

McConchie is beaten as he looks to cut before he reverse sweeps the next ball for one.

Santner gets into the act as he cuts Theekshana's short wide ball through point as the fielder in the deep puts in the dive but ends up pushing the ball over the ropes for a four.

Santner slogs the next ball over midwicket for a six as New Zealand get back on track.

Theekshana bowls a high full toss and Santner makes most as he swings it over midwicket for back to back sixes.

It turns out to be a close call as the TV umpire rules it a fair delivery with Theekshana having a close call.

Santner slaps the last ball through the covers for two runs to get 21 from the over.

39 runs from the last two overs as New Zealand recover to 137/6 in 18 overs.

The duo have turned the innings on its head, putting on 53 from 35 balls for the seventh wicket.

20:28

McConchie on the attack as NZ go past 100

New Zealand 116-6 (17 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

McConchie getting a move on. Chameera back into the attack as he bowls it full and too straight as the right-hander flicks it over square leg for a six.

He is beaten next ball with a slower ball which jags away late past the outside edge.

McConchie flicks Chameera for another six as the pacer again drifts on the pads.

Chameera bowls an inswinging yorker which the Kiwi batter clips to deep square leg for one and Santner also collects a single.

McConchie slashes the last ball past point for a four to get 18 runs from the 17th over.

20:22

Mitchell out for 3 as NZ collapse

New Zealand 98-6 (16 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

The New Zealand innings is going nowhere as the Sri Lanka spinners continue to dry up the runs.

Wellalage starts his final over with three dots in a row to McConchie before he takes one and Santner also manages just a single off the last ball.

Wellalage finishes with tidy figures of 1/27 in four overs. He went for 15 runs in his first over bowled in the Powerplay and went for eight in his second. But he bounced back in his last spell, taking one wicket for four runs in his last two overs.

McConchie breaks the shackles as he sweeps Asalanka for a four through square leg -- the first boundary after a long wait of 33 balls.

20:13

Daryl Mitchell out for 3 as NZ collapse

New Zealand 88-6 (14 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

New Zealand collapsing against Sri Lanka's spinners. Daryl Mitchell is done in by arm ball from Wellalage as the ball goes through his defences to bowl him for 3.

New Zealand collapse to 84/6 in the 13th over, having lost three wickets in six balls without scoring a run.

Cole McConchie gets off the mark with a single to long-off and Santner takes one on the leg side as Wellalage gives away just two runs in his third over.

Theekshana dropped Seifert off the bowling of Madushanka in the third over but has redeemed himself in grand style with three big wickets.

Asalanka continues to pile the pressure as he gives away just two runs in his second over.

New Zealand struggling on 88/6 in 14 overs.

20:04

Theekshana leaves NZ in a mess!

New Zealand 84-5 (12 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Spinner Wellalage, who went for 15 in his first over, is back in the attack.

Ravindra inside edges the sweep first ball before he makes good connection with the shot ball, swiping it perfectly in the gap between long-on and deep midwicket for a four.

Singles off the last four balls makes it eight runs from Wellalage's second over.

Sri Lanka continue to chip away at the wickets. Theekshana, brought back, claims the key wicket of Ravindra, who cuts the short wide ball straight to Hemantha at point.

A big breakthrough for Sri Lanka as the well-set Ravindra walks back for 32 from 22 balls.

Theekshana strikes again in his third over. Left-hander Mark Chapman is cleaned up by a beauty from the off-spinner. The flighted delivery turns sharply to beat Chapman all ends as up as he shapes to defend, going past the outside edge and into the stumps.

New Zealand in trouble on 84/5 in the 12th over.

Mitchell Santner has a close call first ball as he taps Theekshana into the leg side and wants a quick single but is turned back halfway down.

Two wickets and just a single in the 12th over as Theekshana boasts of incredible figures of 3/9 in three overs.

19:54

Chameera strikes; Phillips out for 18

New Zealand 75-3 (10 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Off-spinner Charith Asalanka comes into the attack. Singles from the first five balls before Phillips expertly works the ball in the gap at midwicket for two runs to get seven from the over.

Ravindra breaks free as he chips down the track and lofts spinner Hemantha over long-on for a six.

He takes one to the fielder at deep extra cover before Phillips powerfully smashes a full delivery over the bowler for a four.

Phillips slaps the next ball which is pitched short through the covers for two runs and gets one off the last ball, to get 14 from the over.

Chameera is back into the attack. He starts with a yorker which Phillips hits to long-on for one.

He is unlucky to pick another wicket in his second over as captain Dasun Shanaka puts down a sitter.

Ravindra skies the slower ball high in the night sky as Shanaka at mid-on takes a couple of steps forward and gets under the ball but fails to hold on.

The bowler Chameera is not pleased with his skipper's effort.

He leaves nothing to chance next ball as he bowls Phillips with a beauty as the length ball swings in through the gate to bowl the right-hander for 18 after he misses the slog over the leg side.

Daryl Mitchell is unable to get a run off the last three balls of the over, missing a full delivery on the pads last ball.

Chameera has been excellent, taking 2/8 in his two overs, as New Zealand are reduced to 75/3 in 10 overs, with Ravindra on 26 from 17 balls.

19:42

Phillips, Ravindra take NZ past 50

Sri Lanka's players celebrate a wicket

New Zealand 52-2 (7 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Theekshana bowls another tight over, conceding just five runs as New Zealand lose their momentum after the dismissal of their two openers.

New Zealand are 44/2 in six overs -- their lowest Powerplay total in this World Cup.

Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha comes into the attack. Phillips drives the first ball down to long-off for a single.

Ravindra is beaten as he looks to heave the spinner across the line and survives a close shout for stumping with his feet firmly grounded inside the crease.

Ravindra then hammers a full delivery straight back past the bowler for a four followed by a single.

Phillips lofts the last ball over the bowler for two easy runs as New Zealand go past the 50-run mark in the seventh over.

19:32

New Zealand lose both openers early

New Zealand 39-2 (5 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Pacer Dushmantha Chameera also strikes in his first over to dent New Zealand further.

Siefert pulls the short ball straight into the hands of Kamindu Mendis at deep square leg, who judges it to perfection on the edge of the boundary.

Seifert walks back after a struggling innings of eight as New Zealand lose both their openers in the Powerplay.

Glenn Phillips gets a cracking yorker first up which he digs out before he takes a single off the next.

Chameera gives Ravindra some width as the left-hander flays it through the covers for a four but is beaten last ball looking to drive.

19:23

Theekshana strikes; Allen out for 23

New Zealand 33-1 (4 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Pacer Madushanka continues with the ball. Seifert throws his bat at a full wide delivery and gets the edge but Maheesh Theekshana at short thirdman puts down a sharp chance as he dives full length to his left but fails to hold on.

Allen gives Madushanka more grief as he smashes the next ball straight back over the bowler's head for a four and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Theekshana comes into the attack and strikes first ball with the key wicket of Allen to make up for his earlier dropped catch.

Allen looks to flick it on the leg side but miscues the carrom ball straight back as Theekshana makes sure to hold on to the catch on his follow through.

Allen walks back after a quickfire 23 from 13 balls as New Zealand suffer a big blow in the Powerplay.

Rachin Ravindra gets off the mark with a single to long-off followed by singles off the next two balls.

A good start by Theekshana as he concedes just three runs while making the breakthrough in his opening over.

19:11

New Zealand off to a flying start

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen

New Zealand 23-0 (2 ovs) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage from the other end. Singles off the first two balls before Allen smashes a slight wide delivery in the gap through the covers for a four.

Another half-tracker with width as Allen cuts it behind point for another boundary and then takes one.

Seifert then joins the party as he pulls the last ball for the third four of the over, which goes for 15 runs.

19:07

Sri Lanka elect to bowl in must-win game

New Zealand 8-0 (1 ov) vs Sri Lanka | SCORECARD

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen walk out to open the batting for New Zealand, while left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka takes the new ball for the hosts.

The first ball is pitched on length and swings into Seifert, who inside edges it on to his pads as the ball goes on the off-side for a single.

Allen defends the next two balls before he flicks a full delivery over midwicket for a six to get off the mark in some style.

He drives the fifth ball down to long-on for a comfortable single and Seifert again inside edges off the last ball on to his pads.

18:44

Sri Lanka bring in Asalanka, NZ include spinner McConchie

Sri Lanka will hope their battery of spinners can restrict the Kiwis to a below-par total.

New Zealand will look towards their in-form openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen to continue their attacking approach in the Powerplay, while Glenn Phillips will be a dangerman with the bat for the hosts.

Check out the playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w/k), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (w/k), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.

18:37

Sri Lanka elect to bowl vs New Zealand

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanka has won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Super 8s match in Colombo.

Sri Lanka have made one change as Charith Asalanka replaces opener Kamil Mishara.

New Zealand have also made a change with off-spinner Cole McConchie taking the place of pace all-rounder James Neesham.

New Zealand's opening Super 8s match against Pakistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain, while Sri Lanka lost to England.

18:21

Can SL Overcome Spin Woes vs Kiwis?

Sri Lanka's players celebrate a wicket

Welcome to the coverage of the crucial T20 World Cup Super 8s match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka will need to improve their batting against slower bowlers when they take on New Zealand in a must-win game.

Sri Lanka's batters failed to chase a below par 147 against England on a slow turner in Pallekele. The pitches in Sri Lanka have been tougher for batting compared to co-hosts India and the trend is likely to continue at the Premadasa where bigger boundaries make six-hitting difficult.

While batting has been led by Pathum Nissanka, left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage has been impressive with the ball.

New Zealand, who had to share a point with Pakistan following the wash-out at Premadasa, too have good spinners in their ranks including captain Mitchell Santner.

With rain unlikely, both teams would be pushing for their first win of the Super Eight stage.

New Zealand's opening duo of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert showed ominous form during the league stage and would be looking to extend that run.

More runs are expected from the bat of Rachin Ravindra who got a much-needed fifty in his previous innings against Canada.

T20 WC New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: McConchie, Santner rally NZ to 168

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