The pair added 84 runs for the seventh wicket, the highest stand for that position in the tournament\u2019s history, surpassing the 74-run partnership between Michael Hussey and Steve Smith against Bangladesh at Bridgetown in 2010. Their effort \u2013 Santner making 47 and McConchie hitting 31 not out - came after New Zealand had slumped to 98\/6 in 16 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Santner and McConchie plundered 70 runs in the final four overs, punishing Sri Lanka\u2019s bowlers for bowling a string of full tosses and loose deliveries at the death. McConchie\u2019s clean hitting silenced the Colombo crowd, while Santner provided crucial support with timely boundaries to take the Blackcaps to a competitive score.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera picked 3-30 and 3-38 respectively, but they will wonder if the damage done in the last four overs would bite them hard. In the start, New Zealand\u2019s top order faltered after a brisk start from Finn Allen, who hit four boundaries in the first three overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But after that, Sri Lanka\u2019s bowling show began \u2013 Allen chipped tamely back to Theekshana for a caught and bowled dismissal, while Tim Seifert pulled to deep square leg off Chameera. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips hit a few boundaries in a brief partnership.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Sri Lanka continued to chip away \u2013 Phillips was castled by a ripper from Chameera, while Ravindra cut straight to backward point off Theekshana, who clean bowled Mark Chapman, while Dunith Wellalage dismissed Daryl Mitchell in the same fashion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But after that, Sri Lanka\u2019s bowling show began \u2013 Allen chipped tamely back to Theekshana for a caught and bowled dismissal, while Tim Seifert pulled to deep square leg off Chameera. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips hit a few boundaries in a brief partnership.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief Scores: New Zealand 168\/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Rachin Ravindra 32; Maheesh Theekshana 3-30, Dushmantha Chameera 3-38) against Sri Lanka<\/p>\r\n\r\n