New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard will be remembered as one of the most dramatic turnarounds in T20 World Cup history. On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, under the floodlights at the packed R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, New Zealand produced a performance full of heart, skill and smart thinking to beat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 61 runs and send the home side crashing out of the tournament.
The 35,000-strong crowd had come hoping for a big night from their team. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first, expecting the new pitch to skid and help their seamers early on. What they got instead was sharp turn and bounce that played straight into the hands of New Zealand’s spinners.
As a Sri Lankan supporter sitting in the stands that night, you could feel the excitement turn to disbelief by the end of the PowerPlay. As a New Zealand fan watching from halfway across the world, you were jumping out of your seat when the lower order started smashing sixes. This New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard is not just numbers on a page – it is a story of collapse, courage and complete control with the ball.
Sri Lanka started brilliantly with the ball. Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera ripped through the top and middle order. At 84 for 6 in the 12th over, New Zealand looked dead and buried. Then came the miracle. Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie refused to give up. They added 84 runs for the seventh wicket – the highest seventh-wicket partnership ever recorded in a T20 World Cup match. Santner finished with a blazing 47 off just 26 balls, while McConchie stayed unbeaten on 31 off 23. Those last four overs brought 70 runs and completely changed the game.
New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard shows the final total: New Zealand 168 for 7 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka, chasing 169, could manage only 107 for 8. Matt Henry took the first wicket with the very first ball of the chase – a perfect inswinger that sent Pathum Nissanka back for a golden duck. Rachin Ravindra then took centre stage with career-best figures of 4 for 27, including two stumpings in three balls. New Zealand bowled 17 overs of spin – the most they have ever sent down in a completed T20 World Cup innings.
By the time the last over started, the Premadasa was almost silent. Sri Lanka were out of the tournament, the first team eliminated from the 2026 edition. New Zealand took a giant step towards the semi-finals with a boosted net run rate. This New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard will be studied by coaches and fans for years to come.
The Dramatic Turnaround at R. Premadasa Stadium
The match began under perfect conditions – warm evening, clear skies, and a brand-new pitch that looked dry from the first ball. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said after the game they expected the ball to skid, but it gripped from the start. New Zealand read the conditions better. They knew slow was the way to go. Rachin Ravindra later explained how the whole spin group decided to bowl under 85 km/h after watching Theekshana’s heavy off-breaks earlier.
As a cricket fan, you love moments when the under-pressure side fights back. New Zealand were under huge pressure at 84/6. The crowd was roaring. But Santner and McConchie kept calm, took singles, and then exploded. McConchie, who came into the side instead of Jimmy Neesham to give extra spin options, hit two sixes and a four off Chameera in the 17th over. Santner then tore into Theekshana, hitting two huge sixes over mid-wicket in a 21-run over. That partnership of 84 runs is now written in the record books forever.
Why This Win Feels So Special for New Zealand Fans
For Black Caps supporters, this New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard is proof that the team can win anywhere, on any surface. They had played on flat tracks in Chennai earlier in the tournament. Coming to Colombo and winning with spin on a gripping pitch shows real growth. Captain Mitchell Santner was calm and smart throughout. He trusted his spinners and used only three overs of seam in the entire Sri Lanka innings – the fewest New Zealand have ever bowled in a completed T20I.
Rachin Ravindra, at 26, showed why he is such a valuable all-rounder. He scored 32 with the bat and then took 4 for 27 with the ball. His two stumpings in three deliveries in the 8th over broke Sri Lanka’s back. The asking rate shot past 9 and never came back down. For New Zealand fans, seeing Ravindra bowl slow and get purchase was pure joy.
Heartbreak for Sri Lankan Supporters at Home
For Sri Lankan fans, the pain was real. The Premadasa Stadium is their fortress, but on this night it became the place where their World Cup dream ended. They had not reached the semi-finals since winning the title in 2014. To lose in front of their own crowd, after starting the chase so badly, hurt deeply. Kusal Mendis batted on one leg and still tried his best, but the top order failed again. The middle order could not handle Ravindra’s flight and turn.
Dasun Shanaka was honest in the post-match press conference. “It is very embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd,” he said. The decision to field first was a collective one, but the pitch turned more than expected. Sri Lanka’s spinners did a great job until the 16th over, but the death overs hurt them badly. This New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard will be a tough one for Sri Lankan supporters to watch again, but it also shows what they need to fix before their last group game.
Pre-Match Atmosphere and Team News
The build-up to this New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard was huge. Colombo was buzzing. Tickets sold out in hours. Fans painted their faces, carried flags and sang the national anthem with full emotion. Sri Lanka had struggled in the group stage except for one chase against Australia. They needed a big performance to stay alive.
New Zealand came in with one win and one no-result. They left out James Neesham and brought in Cole McConchie for extra bowling depth. Ish Sodhi played his first game of the tournament (apart from the washed-out Pakistan match). The XI was perfectly balanced for a turning pitch: five spin options ready.
Sri Lanka brought back Charith Asalanka for his first game of the tournament. The pitch report from the ground staff said it was a new surface, so both teams expected something different. Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl first looked logical at the toss, but history shows Premadasa often helps spinners as the ball gets older.
Venue Guide: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
This famous ground has hosted many big T20 games. Capacity 35,000. Two ends – Khettarama End and Scoreboard End. In past T20 World Cups here, matches have seen high scores when the pitch is fresh, but also big turn on days 2-3 of use. In 2012 and earlier 2026 games at this venue, teams have bowled as many as 18 overs of spin in an innings. New Zealand bowled 17 here – only one less than the record.
The boundaries are big on the leg side, which helped Santner and McConchie target the mid-wicket area with their bottom-hand power. The pitch offered bounce and grip for slow bowlers – exactly what Ravindra and Santner used so well.
New Zealand Batting Innings: From 84/6 Crisis to Record-Breaking Rescue – Full Scorecard Breakdown
New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard batting part started brightly. PowerPlay: 44 for 2 in 6 overs.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert (wk) | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Finn Allen | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 176.92 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 32 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 145.45 |
| Glenn Phillips | 18 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Mark Chapman | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 47 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 180.77 |
| Cole McConchie | 31* | 23 | 3 | 2 | 134.78 |
| Extras | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 168/7 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 8.40 |
Fall of Wickets
30/1 (Finn Allen, 3.1 ov)
34/2 (Tim Seifert, 4.2 ov)
75/3 (Glenn Phillips, 9.3 ov)
84/4 (Rachin Ravindra, 11.2 ov)
84/5 (Mark Chapman, 11.4 ov)
84/6 (Daryl Mitchell, 12.1 ov)
168/7 (Mitchell Santner, 19.6 ov)
PowerPlay was lively. Finn Allen hit three boundaries and a six before Theekshana took a sharp return catch in the 4th over. Tim Seifert picked out deep backward square in the next over. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips added 41 valuable runs, taking the score to 75. Then the collapse happened in five balls – three wickets for no runs.
From 84 for 6, the tension was huge. Santner and McConchie started slowly – both on 3 off 10-12 balls. They rotated strike, took the game deep, and then unleashed. In the 17th over McConchie smashed Chameera for 4, 6, 6. Santner then destroyed Theekshana’s next over for 21 runs. The last four overs produced 70 runs – a masterclass in death batting on a slow pitch. The 7th-wicket stand of 84 is now the highest ever in T20 World Cup history. That single partnership turned a possible 130 into 168 and won the game.
Sri Lanka Bowling During New Zealand Innings
Sri Lanka bowled really well for 15 overs. Theekshana was the star early – 3 for 9 in his first three overs. He dismissed Allen, Ravindra and Chapman. Chameera took two quick wickets and finished with 3 for 38. Wellalage got Mitchell with a beautiful arm ball. But the death overs hurt them. Theekshana leaked 21 in his last over. Chameera could not bowl perfect wide yorkers every ball. Sri Lanka wanted to keep New Zealand under 130, but the lower order had other plans.
Sri Lanka Batting Innings: 107/8 and Heartbreak at Home – Full Scorecard Breakdown
The chase started in the worst possible way. First ball, Matt Henry’s inswinger cleaned up Pathum Nissanka – golden duck. Henry then took Charith Asalanka in his second over. PowerPlay: only 20 for 2 – the slowest of the entire tournament.
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | 11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 31 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 134.78 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 29 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 126.09 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 7* | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 107/8 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 5.35 |
Fall of Wickets
0/1 (Pathum Nissanka, 0.1 ov)
6/2 (Charith Asalanka, 2.1 ov)
27/3 (Kusal Mendis, 8.1 ov)
29/4 (Pavan Rathnayake, 8.2 ov)
46/5 (Dasun Shanaka, 10.3 ov)
59/6 (Dushan Hemantha, 12.2 ov)
77/7 (Kamindu Mendis, 14.6 ov)
105/8 (Dunith Wellalage, 19.4 ov)
Rachin Ravindra came on in the 8th over and changed the game in three balls. He flighted the ball, got Kusal Mendis stumped, then Pavan Rathnayake stumped next ball. The asking rate went over 10. Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage tried hard – 31 and 29 – but the target was too big and the spin too tight. New Zealand used five different spinners and only three overs of seam. The grip on the game never loosened.
New Zealand Bowling Attack & Tactical Masterclass
This was the biggest takeaway from the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard. New Zealand bowled 17 overs of spin. Only Matt Henry (2 overs) and Lockie Ferguson (1 over) bowled seam. Henry’s opening spell was perfect – 2 for 3. Ravindra’s 4 for 27 is now the third-best figures by a New Zealand spinner in T20 World Cup history. Santner kept things tight with 1 for 19 in 4 overs. Cole McConchie and Glenn Phillips also did their job. The plan was simple: bowl slow, hit the length that turns away from the right-handers, use the big boundaries. It worked perfectly.
Key Performances and Emotional Fan Narratives
Rachin Ravindra – Player of the Match. 32 runs and 4 for 27. He understood the conditions better than anyone. Mitchell Santner led from the front with bat and ball. Cole McConchie proved why he was picked. Matt Henry set the tone with the new ball.
For New Zealand fans, this win feels like the start of something big. They now sit second in the group with a huge NRR. For Sri Lankan fans, it is painful, but they still have one game left to finish the tournament on a high.
Statistical Records and Milestones Broken
- Highest 7th-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history: 84 (Santner-McConchie)
- Best bowling figures by New Zealand spinner in T20 WC: 4/27 (Ravindra)
- Most overs of spin bowled by New Zealand in a T20 WC innings: 17
- Most overs of spin in a T20 World Cup match (combined): 30
- Slowest PowerPlay of the tournament: Sri Lanka 20/2 in 6 overs
Updated New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Standings – Super 8 Group 2
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ENG (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.491 |
| 2 | NZ | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +3.050 |
| 3 | PAK | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -0.461 |
| 4 | SL (E) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -2.800 |
Sri Lanka are the first team eliminated. New Zealand have one foot in the semi-finals. Pakistan now face a very tough NRR task.
Post-Match Reactions
Mitchell Santner: “We were thinking 140, but 160 was nice. Cole was fantastic. On this wicket, slower was better.”
Dasun Shanaka: “Very embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd. The partnership took the game away.”
Rachin Ravindra (Player of the Match): “Understanding that slow was better. Santner is a master at it. The crowd was amazing.”
Expert Analysis & Final Verdict
New Zealand won because they read the pitch better, backed their spinners, and showed unbelievable fight with the bat. Sri Lanka will look back and wish they had taken more risks earlier in the chase. The 61-run margin and the record partnership make this New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard one of the standout results of the 2026 tournament.
Cricket fans around the world love stories like this – underdogs fighting back, records being broken, and big crowds creating atmosphere even in defeat. New Zealand have announced themselves as serious title contenders. Sri Lanka, despite the exit, showed moments of fight and will want to end their home campaign with pride in their final game.
Thank you for reading this detailed New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard recap on IPL Star. Share this with your cricket friends and keep supporting the game we all love. The T20 World Cup 2026 continues to deliver thrills – stay tuned for more!
ESPNcricinfo match report.
FAQs: New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard
1. What is the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match? New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard shows a thrilling 61-run victory for the Black Caps. New Zealand posted 168/7 and bowled Sri Lanka out for 107/8 at R. Premadasa Stadium on 25 February 2026.
2. How did the record 84-run 7th-wicket stand shape the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Mitchell Santner (47) and Cole McConchie (31*) rescued New Zealand from 84/6 with the highest 7th-wicket partnership (84 runs) in T20 World Cup history. Their 70-run blitz in the last four overs turned the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard into a match-winning total.
3. Who was Player of the Match in the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Rachin Ravindra earned Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance – 32 runs and career-best 4/27 (including two stumpings) – that defined the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard.
4. Why was Sri Lanka eliminated after the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Sri Lanka’s 107/8 chase fell 61 runs short, making them the first team knocked out of T20 World Cup 2026. The New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard confirmed their elimination with zero points from two Super 8 games.
5. What are the updated New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team standings in Super 8 Group 2? After the match, New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team standings show: 1. ENG (4 pts, +1.491 NRR), 2. NZ (3 pts, +3.050 NRR), 3. PAK (1 pt, -0.461 NRR), 4. SL (0 pts, -2.800 NRR).
6. How many overs of spin did New Zealand bowl in the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? New Zealand bowled a tournament-high 17 overs of spin (only 3 overs of seam) in the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard – the most they have ever sent down in a completed T20 World Cup innings.
7. What was the slowest PowerPlay score in the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Sri Lanka managed just 20/2 in the first six overs – the slowest PowerPlay of the entire T20 World Cup 2026 – after Matt Henry’s first-ball golden duck to Pathum Nissanka.
8. How did Rachin Ravindra’s bowling change the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Ravindra took two wickets (two stumpings) in his first three balls and finished with 4/27, breaking Sri Lanka’s middle order and sealing the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard.
9. What records were broken in the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard? Key records include: highest 7th-wicket stand in T20 WC (84 runs), best NZ spinner figures in WC (4/27 by Ravindra), and most spin overs by NZ in a WC innings (17).
10. What does the New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard mean for the semi-finals? The 61-run win and +3.050 NRR have put New Zealand one foot in the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka are out. New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team scorecard Pakistan now face a tough net-run-rate battle in the updated New Zealand national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team standings.