Dasun Shanaka: Sri Lanka Eliminated After Heavy Defeat to New Zealand in Colombo
Sri Lanka were knocked out of the T20 World Cup after a 61-run loss to New Zealand in Colombo, a result that extinguishes their semi-final hopes; dasun shanaka. The collapse completed a match in which late hitting and a second-phase batting failure swung the contest decisively.
Colombo: New Zealand’s late surge turns 98-6 into 168-7
New Zealand finished on 168 for 7 in their 20 overs, recovering from 98 for 6 after 16 overs to post a defendable total. The late flourish produced 70 runs in the final four overs, sparked by Mitchell Santner’s explosive 47 off 26 balls and a composed 31 not out from Cole McConchie. The pair combined in an 84-run stand that transformed a vulnerable position into a competitive score.
Early on, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had the upper hand. Maheesh Theekshana took 3-9 from his first three overs, and Dushmantha Chameera impressed with the new-ball work that helped New Zealand slump from 75-2 to 84-6 in less than three overs. But the hosts could not capitalise in the final phase, and the late New Zealand hitting left Sri Lanka chasing 169.
Dasun Shanaka and Sri Lanka's Super 8 exit
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 107 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Rachin Ravindra’s left-arm spin instrumental for New Zealand; he finished with figures of 4-27 and added 32 from 22 with the bat. Fast bowler Matt Henry struck twice in the powerplay and ended with figures of 2-3 from two overs before being rested, a performance that helped rip the top order apart.
The chase unraveled early: Sri Lanka were 29 for 4 by the ninth over after Ravindra had both Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake stumped. From that point momentum evaporated. Ravindra’s four wickets and Henry’s early strikes ensured Sri Lanka never recovered, and the home side limped to 107-8.
For Sri Lanka, the pattern of promising spells followed by costly lapses proved decisive. Maheesh Theekshana’s early three-wicket burst and Chameera’s contributions had put New Zealand on the ropes, but the failure to close out the innings in the back end allowed the visitors to seize control.
What makes this notable is how the match was decided in short sequences: a 70-run finish in four overs for New Zealand and a rapid reduction to 29-4 in Sri Lanka’s chase. Those discrete swings, more than the aggregated statistics, determined the outcome and ended the hosts’ campaign.
Implications for both teams in Super 8 Group 2
New Zealand remain alive in the competition and can secure a semi-final berth with a win over England in their remaining Super 8s fixture. Sri Lanka depart the tournament after back-to-back defeats in the Super 8s, and they will face Pakistan in their final group game in Pallekele without a path to the last four.
Match figures underline the tale of two halves: New Zealand 168-7 (Santner 47, McConchie 31*) and Sri Lanka 107-8 (Ravindra 4-27, Henry 2-3). Both teams have one Super 8s match remaining, but only New Zealand still control a route to the semi-finals.
The result leaves questions about Sri Lanka’s ability to sustain pressure through a full 20 overs, while New Zealand demonstrated how late-innings hitting and effective spin can overturn mid-innings fragility. dasun shanaka
