Match Overview
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team match scorecard from the 46th Match of the Super Eights stage (Group 2) of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 was played on February 25, 2026, at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that backfired spectacularly as New Zealand posted a competitive total of 168/7 in their 20 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure, managing only 107/8 in their full quota of 20 overs. New Zealand sealed a dominant 61-run victory to claim crucial Super 8 points.
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, contributing 32 runs off 22 balls with the bat and claiming a brilliant 4/27 with the ball. Mitchell Santner also played a vital role with a match-winning cameo of 47 runs off just 26 balls, while Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with figures of 3/30.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert† | c PHKD Mendis b Chameera | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.88 |
| Finn Allen | c & b Theekshana | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 176.92 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c Hemantha b Theekshana | 32 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 145.45 |
| Glenn Phillips | b Chameera | 18 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | b Wellalage | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Mark Chapman | b Theekshana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | c Asalanka b Chameera | 47 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 180.76 |
| Cole McConchie | not out | 31 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 134.78 |
| Matt Henry | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ish Sodhi | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lockie Ferguson | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 6 | |||||
| Total | 168/7 | 20.0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 11.33 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 7.50 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 9.50 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 5.33 |
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | b Henry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis† | st †Seifert b Ravindra | 11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Mitchell b Henry | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 55.55 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | st †Seifert b Ravindra | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 55.55 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Phillips b Santner | 31 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 134.78 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | c Allen b Ravindra | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Dushan Hemantha | c Mitchell b Ravindra | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | c Ravindra b Phillips | 29 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 126.08 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | not out | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 7 | |||||
| Total | 107/8 | 20.0 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Pathum Nissanka, 0.1 ov), 2-6 (Charith Asalanka, 2.1 ov), 3-27 (Kusal Mendis, 8.1 ov), 4-29 (Pavan Rathnayake, 8.2 ov), 5-46 (Dasun Shanaka, 10.3 ov), 6-59 (Dushan Hemantha, 12.2 ov), 7-77 (Kamindu Mendis, 14.6 ov), 8-105 (Dunith Wellalage, 19.4 ov)
New Zealand Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.50 |
| Cole McConchie | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.66 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 6.75 |
| Glenn Phillips | 4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
Top Batting Performance
Mitchell Santner was the standout batsman for New Zealand, smashing an aggressive 47 runs off just 26 balls at a strike rate of 180.76. His innings included 2 fours and 4 sixes, providing crucial momentum in the death overs. Rachin Ravindra also played a vital knock of 32 runs off 22 balls, anchoring the middle order before being dismissed. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis top-scored with a gritty 31 off 23 balls, while Dunith Wellalage contributed 29 runs in a valiant but ultimately losing effort.
Top Bowling Performance
Rachin Ravindra was simply unplayable at times, claiming 4 wickets for just 27 runs in his 4-over spell. His ability to vary his pace and spin troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen, leading to crucial breakthroughs including the dismissals of Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, and Dushan Hemantha. Matt Henry was equally impressive with figures of 2/3 in just 2 overs, including the golden duck of Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the innings. Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3/30, but received little support from his colleagues.
Turning Point of the Match
The match’s turning point came in the 8th over when Rachin Ravindra struck twice in quick succession, removing both Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake via stumping. This double blow reduced Sri Lanka to 29/4 and completely derailed their chase. From that point onwards, Sri Lanka never recovered, losing wickets at regular intervals despite some late resistance from Wellalage and Chameera.
Records & Milestones
- Rachin Ravindra achieved his best bowling figures in T20 World Cup matches with 4/27
- Matt Henry bowled one of the most economical opening spells in T20 World Cup history (2-1-3-2)
- Pathum Nissanka became the latest victim of a first-ball dismissal in T20 World Cup history
- New Zealand’s victory margin of 61 runs is one of their biggest wins against Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup matches
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | New Zealand Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand match? A: New Zealand won the match by 61 runs. They scored 168/7 and restricted Sri Lanka to 107/8 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match? A: Rachin Ravindra from New Zealand was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance of 32 runs and 4 wickets for 27 runs.
Q: What was the match result? A: New Zealand won by 61 runs. New Zealand batted first and scored 168/7, while Sri Lanka could only manage 107/8 in their 20-over chase.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on February 25, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 Super Eights stage.
Q: What is the current series score? A: This was a standalone Super 8 match in the T20 World Cup tournament, not part of a bilateral series. New Zealand earned 2 points from this victory, while Sri Lanka remained on 0 points in the Super 8 Group 2 standings.
Q: Who top-scored for Sri Lanka? A: Kamindu Mendis was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 31 runs off 23 balls, including 4 fours. Dunith Wellalage contributed 29 runs off 23 balls.
Q: What were the bowling highlights? A: Rachin Ravindra took 4/27 for New Zealand, while Matt Henry bowled an exceptional spell of 2/3 in 2 overs. Maheesh Theekshana was the best Sri Lankan bowler with 3/30.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team match scorecard tells the story of a comprehensive New Zealand victory in the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage. Rachin Ravindra’s all-round masterclass, combined with Mitchell Santner’s explosive batting and disciplined bowling from the entire New Zealand attack, proved too much for a struggling Sri Lankan side.
Sri Lanka’s batting collapse, losing early wickets and never recovering, highlighted their ongoing struggles in high-pressure T20 World Cup matches. New Zealand’s clinical performance boosted their semi-final hopes, while Sri Lanka faced an uphill task to stay alive in the tournament. The next matches for both teams would be crucial in determining their fate in the Super 8 stage of this T20 World Cup campaign.