T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Match 46, Super Eight – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

Feb 25, 2026 - 18:45

New Zealand sealed a clinical 61-run win over Sri Lanka in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium, eliminating the hosts from the tournament.

After being put into bat, New Zealand struggled despite a decent start. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert fell in the Powerplay, and a middle-order collapse saw them slide from 75 for 2 to 84 for 6. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera.

But skipper Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie put together a stunning turnaround. Their record 84-run seventh-wicket partnership shifted the game, with Santner smashing 47 off 26 balls and McConchie finishing unbeaten on 31. The last four overs yielded 70 runs, lifting New Zealand to 168 for 7. Sri Lanka’s chase never got going. Matt Henry struck in the first over, and Rachin Ravindra’s 4 for 27 dismantled the middle order. The hosts never recovered from their slow Powerplay and were restricted to 107 for 8, bowing out of the World Cup.

Top Batting performance of the match - Mitchell Santner

Captain to the rescue! 💪

Mitchell Santner's power-hitting pushes New Zealand's fightback.

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | SUPER 8, #SLvNZ ➡️ LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/g4wqt4U8vL pic.twitter.com/p0KW8AcuLA — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 25, 2026

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner produced a captain’s knock under pressure to lift his team to 168/7. Walking in with the BlackCaps reeling at 84/6, Santner counter-attacked with his 47 off 26 balls, laced with two fours and four sixes. Partnering with Cole McConchie, Santner stitched together a record 84-run stand off just 47 balls, now the highest seventh-wicket (or lower) partnership in T20 World Cup history. The left-hander struck at 180.76 and was dismissed off the final delivery, but not before reaching a major personal milestone of 1,000 T20I runs.

Top Bowling performance of the match - Rachin Ravindra

First time was so nice, he had to do it twice! 😉

Rachin Ravindra hits the repeat button and New Zealand tighten the screws on Sri Lanka 🔥

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | SUPER 8, #SLvNZ ➡️ LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/g4wqt4U8vL pic.twitter.com/o24RL6zNXg — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 25, 2026

Left-arm spinner, Rachin Ravindra, was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball as he dismantled Sri Lanka with a career-best 4/27 in four overs. Ravindra outfoxed the Lankan batters with his bowling and handed his team a brilliant win. He first had Kusal Mendis stumped with extra bounce and turn before repeating the same to remove Pavan Rathnayake the very next ball. Dasun Shanaka fell to a mistimed cut as Ravindra extracted bounce, while Dushan Hemantha perished trying to force the pace.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

Mitchell Santner became the latest from a Full Member nation to complete the double of 1,000+ T20I runs and 100+ wickets, joining Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza, Hardik Pandya and Shadab Khan.
Sri Lanka registered their lowest powerplay total of this T20 World Cup, and their second-lowest (1-6 overs) in T20Is after 18/3 vs India in 2022.
The 84-run stand between Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie is now the highest seventh-wicket (or lower) partnership in T20 World Cups.
The duo surpassed the previous record of 74 runs set by Michael Hussey and Steve Smith against Bangladesh in 2010.
New Zealand’s recovery from 84/6 to 168/7 is the highest team total after being six down for under 100 in T20 World Cup history.
Santner’s 47 is his highest score in a T20 World Cup and took him past 1,000 T20I runs overall.
Rachin Ravindra recorded his career-best T20I figures of 4/27.
44/2 marked New Zealand’s lowest powerplay score in five matches in this World Cup.

Who was the Player of the Match?

New Zealand all-rounder, Rachin Ravindra recieved the Player of the Match honours for his sublime performance with both bat and ball. Earlier with the bat, the southpaw scored 32 off 22 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and a six. He later returned to record his career best 4/27 to dismantle the opposition batting line-up.

What is the next match?

New Zealand's next contest in the ongoing Super Eight stage is against England, with the two teams set to meet on 27 February in Colombo. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will next take on Pakistan on 28 February in Pallekele.