COLOMBO New Zealand knockedco-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday with a 61- run palm in Colombo that boosted theirsemi-final expedients.
Sri Lanka demanded an emphatic palm to stay alive but rather exited with a wail, limping to 107- 8 chasing New Zealand’s 168- 7.
A palm for New Zealand against England on Friday at the same R. Premadasa colosseum would see them eclipse the Super Eights group and qualify for thesemi-finals along with Harry Brook’s side.
A defeat would open the door for Pakistan. They would need a big win against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday to advance on net run rate.
Sri Lanka were in trouble from the start. Matt Henry dismissed their key batsman, Pathum Nissanka, with the first ball of the innings.
Henry also removed Charith Asalanka with the first ball of his next over. Sri Lanka struggled at 6-2.
By the end of the six-over powerplay, Sri Lanka crawled to 20-2. This was the smallest total in the competition and their second-smallest ever in T20 internationals.
Part- time incentive Rachin Ravindra set up turn to put the game beyond Sri Lanka with a career-stylish 4- 27.
Ravindra had a charging Kusal Mendis stumped and also removed Pavan Rathnayake in analogous fashion in the same over as the falsity crowd was stunned into silence.
“ It’s veritably disturbing to fail the home crowd, ” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.
“ We started really well, but to be honest, the Santner- McConchie and that cooperation, it was a good one, which took the game down from us. ”
New Zealand before recovered from amini-collapse to reach 168- 7.
“ I suppose it was obviously a nice score there with the quantum of spin on the ball. They squeezed us a lot, ” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.
Sri Lanka were right in the game as New Zealand drooped from 84- 3 to 84- 6 in the space of six deliveries.
But an 84- run stand off just 47 deliveries for the seventh gate between Cole McConchie and Santner enabled them to set a tricky target on a turning pitch.
Skipper Santner top scored with 47 off 26 balls with two fours and four sixes.
McConchie, recalled to the side, posted an unbeaten 31 out 23 balls
New Zealand were floundering to read Maheesh Theekshana as the incentive claimed 3- 9 in his first three overs.
New Zealand blasted 70 off the last four overs, including 21 off the final bone
from Theekshana.
Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera finished with 3- 38.