New Delhi: New Zealand produced an all-round brilliant show on Wednesday to eliminate co-hosts Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup 2026. In a Super Eight clash between the Kiwis and the island nation in Colombo, New Zealand took a step closer to the semifinals with a convincing 61-run victory at the R.Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka suffered their second successive loss in the Super 8s while New Zealand bagged their first win in two matches. With one match still remaining for both the sides, the island nation has no chance if qualifying while the Kiwis still can way into the semis and join England as the next team to have proceeded.
ЁЯЪи NEW ZEALAND IS CLOSE TO SEMI FINAL ЁЯЪи
тАУ They defeated Sri Lanka and knock the home team out of the T20 World Cup тЭМ pic.twitter.com/gQAPWKeBN9
тАФ Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 25, 2026
Lankan batters fail
Meanwhile, chasing a competitive total of 167, Sri Lanka could just muster 107/8 in the stipulated 20 overs after Rachin Ravindra pushed them against the wall with a four-wicket haul. Matt Henry too contributed with a brilliant spell claiming two wickets while skipper Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips also claimed a wicket apiece.
For Sri Lanka, apart from Kamindu MendisтАЩ 31-run knock and Dunith WellalageтАЩs 29 runs, none of the batters could really showcase courage in the chase with the Kiwi bowlers producing exceptional step.