T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka bow out after collapse to heavy defeat by New Zealand

Co-hosts Sri Lanka crashed out of the T20 World Cup after collapsing with a 61-run defeat to New Zealand in Colombo.

Needing a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, Sri Lanka looked to be in control late in New Zealand’s innings, having restricted them to 98-6 after 16 overs.

However, the bowlers collapsed in the face of a late surge from Mitchell Santner (47 off 26 balls) and Cole McConchie (31 not out off 23) and New Zealand hit 70 off the final four.

A chase of 169 left the match in the balance but Sri Lanka’s top order collapsed, with fast bowler Matt Henry taking two wickets in the powerplay.

From there, the hosts failed to generate any momentum and when Rashin Ravindra scored a goal each for Kusal Mendis and Pavan Ratnayake in the ninth minute, Sri Lanka were 29-4 ahead and the game was over.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra, who made 32 off 22 with the bat, took two more wickets to finish with figures of 4-27, while Henry got the rest of the night going after taking 2-3 off his two overs as Sri Lanka pulled themselves to 107-8.

After losing to England in their opening match in the Super 8s, Sri Lanka leave with a whimper while New Zealand remain in contention to reach their fifth T20 World Cup semi-final.

However, for most of the first innings, the Sri Lankan bowlers looked like match-winners, with spinner Mahesh Thekshana taking 3-9 from his first three overs, and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera also impressed.

They led the way as New Zealand went from 75-2 to 84-6 in less than three overs.

But Sri Lanka failed to finish the job and McConchie started fighting back before his skipper took charge with a brutal display of batting, dismantling Sri Lanka’s suddenly fragile attack, in an 84-run stand.

It took New Zealand to a competitive total that ultimately proved more than good enough when the spinners took control and Sri Lanka collapsed.

Both sides have one match remaining in the Super 8s. New Zealand can book their place in the semi-finals if they beat England on Friday, while Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Pallekele on Saturday.