New Zealand kept their semi-final dreams alive and effectively beat the co-hosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup 2026 with a 61-run victory in Colombo on 25 February 2026. Hero of the night Racine Ravindrahis all-round brilliance turned a precarious situation at the R. Premadasa Stadium into a dominant victory. This victory is strengthening New Zealand‘s Net Run Rate significantly as they entered the crucial final match against the Super 8s England. A second consecutive Super 8 loss for Sri Lanka confirms their exit from the tournament, ending their home campaign in heartbreak.
Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie rescued New Zealand after Maheesh Theekshana’s triple strike
New Zealand’s innings was a tale of two halves as they recovered from a horrific middle-order collapse to post a mammoth 168/7 on a tough Colombo surface. After electing to bowl, Sri Lanka took early control Mahesh Theekshana3/30 a star removed the spell, the dangerous one Find Allen (23) and Mark Chapman for the duck.
Racine Ravindra His 32 off 22 balls looked elegant during, provided some stability, but when Dushmantha Chameera was fired Glenn Phillips (18), the Black Caps were staring at a sub at 84/6 in the 13th over. However, the 84-run in-between game changed dramatically during the seventh-wicket partnership Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchiewho plundered 70 runs from the last four alone. Santner played the captain’s knock, hitting 47 off just 26 balls and hitting four huge sixes targeting the shorter leg boundaries.
McConchie provided excellent support with an unbeaten 31, ensuring the momentum was solid as New Zealand headed into the break. The late carnage sent the Sri Lankan bowlers into a state of shock as they surrendered a position of absolute advantage to post a total well above the ground’s average first innings score.
Rachin Ravindra’s four-wicket haul dashed Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2026 hopes in Colombo.
Defending 168, New Zealand produced a clinical bowling display to bundle Sri Lanka out for just 107, with Rachin proving to be the architect of the collapse. As a follow-up, it started disastrously for the co-hosts Matt Henry removed Pathum Nissanka In the first ball of the innings, then dismissal Charith Asalanka Leaving the hosts on 6/2.
Ravindra then took center stage with his orthodox left-arm spin and claimed a sensational 4/27 to take the heart out of the Sri Lankan middle order. He took it out first Where in Mandy (11) and Pawan Rathnayake (10) over the same, both hit by flight and turn before being masterfully hit by Tim Seifert. Ravindra continued his frenzy by dismissing the captain Dasun Shanaka and Dushan Hemanthaeffectively ending any realistic chance for the home team to make a comeback.
Despite the battle from the 31st Kamindu Mendis and from the late 29th Dunith Wellalagethe required run rate went past 15, forcing the batsmen into desperate innings, which resulted in an overabundance of wickets. Santner completed his brilliant day by getting Kamindu Mendis out of the set Glenn Phillips He polished off the tail to seal a 61-run victory. The win puts New Zealand two points clear PakistanIn setting up a thrilling finale to Group 2, Sri Lanka became the first team to be officially eliminated from the Super 8 stage.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Why should Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to field at RPS Colombo? After failing to chase down 146 against England in the last game?
When a team loses confidence in chasing, the batting looks fragile and the pitch turns, why chase again?
He raised this question in time…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 25, 2026
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2026
A huge change of pace in the game. A great late rally by the Kiwis who make Sri Lanka a tough target in my opinion. 169 is definitely 25 more on this surface.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) February 25, 2026
Sri Lanka has literally been at the minnow level since 2015. Once Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Malinga, Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Vaas etc.
— yang goi (@GongR1ght) February 25, 2026
IF:
-Pakistan wins against Sri Lanka with better NRR
– And NZ lost to EnglandPakistan will reach the semi-finals.
But this will not happen because we have complete trust in Pakistan.— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) February 25, 2026
NZ made sure of the following –
– Pakistan was excluded from the World Cup
-Sri Lanka has no semifinals and finals– Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 25, 2026
Sri Lanka to Pakistan: We will drown, we will drown with you
Lanka was out of this world cup. All but Pakistan. #SLvsNZ #ICCT20WorldCup
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 25, 2026
New Zealand knocked Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup, leaving Pakistan on the brink of an exit.
Fans can now buy tickets for the two semi-finals in Kolkata and Mumbai, followed by the final in Ahmedabad.— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) February 25, 2026
Victory in Colombo 💥
Matt Henry set the tone with 2-3 from 2 as Rachin Ravindra took 4-27 from 4 overs 🔥
📷 = ICC/Getty#SLvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VlGbcNBdfu
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 25, 2026
RACHIN RAVINDRA STOLE THE SHOW 🌟🇳🇿🔥
Won POTM for match-winning all-around display 🏆💥
32 off 22 bats 🏏⚡ 4 overs • 27 runs • 4 wickets 🎯🔥#T20WorldCup2026 #RachinRavindra #srilanka #cricket #NewZealand #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/k5tJTjflJT
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 25, 2026
