In a thrilling Super 8 encounter at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026. Captain Mitchell Santner emerged as the hero, anchoring the innings with a gritty 47 after a shaky start that saw his side slump to 84/6.
Batting first on a deceptively tricky surface, New Zealand recovered through Santner’s partnership with Cole McConchie’s unbeaten 31, posting 168/7. Sri Lanka’s chase faltered badly at 107/8.
Post-match, Santner dissected the game. “The Lankans bowled superbly upfront, putting us under real pressure,” he said. “Dropping to 84/3 wasn’t great, but we decided to bat deep. Targeting 140 allowed us to explode later – 168 was solid.”
On his batting mindset, he added, “I wasn’t happy with my previous outing. This wicket rewards patience; settle in, and runs flow. Cole and I were edgy at first, but extending the partnership worked wonders.”
Santner highlighted the pitch behavior. “Toss time, it looked flat, but spin was rampant – more than expected for both teams. Spinners thrived on the larger boundary, turning balls in for big hits. Cole’s innings was match-defining.”
With England looming on February 27 as a semi-final decider, Santner remained pragmatic. “They’re world-class. Pitch conditions will be key. A grippy track could make it a spinner’s duel.” New Zealand’s bowlers, reading the first innings perfectly, set the tone for future success.