New Zealand kept their semifinal dreams alive and effectively knocked co-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding 61-run victory in Colombo on February 25, 2026. The hero of the night was Rachin Ravindra, whose all-round brilliance turned a precarious situation into a dominant win at the R. Premadasa Stadium. This win boosts New Zealand’s Net Run Rate significantly as they head into a crucial final Super 8 clash against England. For Sri Lanka, a second consecutive Super 8 loss ends their home-soil campaign in heartbreak, confirming their elimination from the tournament.
Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie rescue New Zealand after Maheesh Theekshana’s triple strike
New Zealand’s innings was a tale of two halves, recovering from a dire middle-order collapse to post a formidable 168/7 on a challenging Colombo surface. After choosing to bowl, Sri Lanka seized early control through Maheesh Theekshana, who produced a stellar spell of 3/30, removing the dangerous Finn Allen (23) and Mark Chapman for a duck.
Rachin Ravindra looked elegant during his 32 off 22 balls, providing some stability, but when Dushmantha Chameera dismissed Glenn Phillips (18), the Black Caps were staring at a sub-par total at 84/6 in the 13th over. However, the game shifted dramatically during an 84-run seventh-wicket partnership between Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie, who plundered 70 runs from the final four overs alone. Santner played a captain’s knock, smashing 47 off just 26 balls, featuring four massive sixes that targeted the shorter leg-side boundaries.
McConchie provided perfect support with an unbeaten 31, ensuring that the momentum was firmly with New Zealand heading into the break. The late-overs carnage left the Sri Lankan bowlers looking shell-shocked, as they surrendered a position of absolute dominance to concede a total that was well above the ground’s average first-innings score.
Rachin Ravindra’s four-wicket haul crushes Sri Lankan T20 World Cup 2026 hopes in Colombo
Defending 168, New Zealand delivered a clinical bowling performance to bundle out Sri Lanka for just 107, with Rachin proving to be the architect of the collapse. The chase began in disastrous fashion for the co-hosts as Matt Henry removed Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the innings, followed by the dismissal of Charith Asalanka to leave the hosts at 6/2.
Ravindra then took center stage with his left-arm orthodox spin, claiming a sensational 4/27 to rip the heart out of the Sri Lankan middle order. He first removed Kusal Mendis (11) and Pavan Rathnayake (10) in the same over, both beaten by flight and turn before being expertly stumped by Tim Seifert. Ravindra continued his rampage by dismissing captain Dasun Shanaka and Dushan Hemantha, effectively ending any realistic chance of a home-side comeback.
Despite a fighting 31 from Kamindu Mendis and a late 29 from Dunith Wellalage, the required run rate soared past 15, forcing the batters into desperate shots that resulted in a flurry of wickets. Santner capped off his brilliant day by removing the set Kamindu Mendis, while Glenn Phillips polished off the tail to seal the 61-run win. The victory leaves New Zealand on two points above Pakistan, setting up a thrilling finale to Group 2, while Sri Lanka becomes the first team to be officially eliminated from the Super 8 stage.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Why would Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to field at RPS Colombo? After failing to chase 146 against England in the last game?
When the team has lost confidence in chasing, batting looks fragile, and the pitch has turn, why chase again?
Had raised this question during the…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 25, 2026
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2026
Massive momentum shift in the game. Great late rally by the kiwis setting Sri Lanka a tough target in my opinion. 169 definitely 25 too much on this surface.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) February 25, 2026
Sri Lanka is literally minnow level since 2015. It’s sad to see that the country which once produced the likes of Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Malinga, Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Vaas etc is now languishing at the bottom of the barrel.
— yang goi (@GongR1ght) February 25, 2026
IF:
-Pakistan wins against Sri Lanka with better NRR
– And NZ lost to EnglandPakistan will sneak into the Semi-Final.
But aisa nahi hoga because we have full confidence in Pakistan.— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) February 25, 2026
NZ made sure below things –
-Pakistan out of the world cup
-No semi final and finals in Sri Lanka— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 25, 2026
Sri Lanka to Pakistan: hum to doobenge sanam tujhko bhi saath hi leke jayenge
Lanka out of this World Cup. Pakistan all but out. #SLvsNZ #ICCT20WorldCup
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 25, 2026
New Zealand have thrown Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup, and have put Pakistan on the brink of an exit.
Fans can now buy tickets of the two semifinals in Kolkata and Mumbai and then the final in Ahmedabad.— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) February 25, 2026
Victory in Colombo 💥
Matt Henry set the tone with 2-3 off his 2 overs as Rachin Ravindra picked up 4-27 off his 4 overs 🔥
📷 = ICC/Getty#SLvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VlGbcNBdfu
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 25, 2026
RACHIN RAVINDRA STEALS THE SHOW 🌟🇳🇿🔥
Won POTM for a match-winning all-round display 🏆💥
32 off 22 with the bat 🏏⚡ 4 overs • 27 runs • 4 wickets 🎯🔥#T20WorldCup2026 #RachinRavindra #srilanka #Cricket #NewZealand #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/k5tJTjflJT
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 25, 2026
