Captain dasun

T20 World Cup: Batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra weaved a superb web with his crafty left-arm spin bowling to pick 4-27 as New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 61 runs to move closer in entering semi-finals of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. The result also meant co-hosts Sri Lanka were eliminated from the tournament in front of their home crowd at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka appeared favourites to win the Super Eights clash when they reduced New Zealand to 84/6, but Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie staged a remarkable turnaround with a record 84-run stand for the seventh wicket. Their late assault lifted New Zealand to 168/7, with 70 runs coming in the final four overs.

Sri Lanka’s chase faltered immediately as Matt Henry dismissed Pathum Nissanka on the first ball. Ravindra then took charge with his slower balls and flight to pick his career-best figures in T20Is, as New Zealand’s spinners bowled 17 of the 20 overs to exploit the dry conditions.