Matt Henry became the first New Zealand bowler to pick a wicket off the first ball of a T20 World Cup innings when he clean bowled Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka for a first ball duck.
Sri Lanka’s run chase never recovered from that devastating blow as they crashed to 61-run defeat against New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday to become the first team to be knocked out from the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup.
Chasing 169, the Lankans managed 107/8 in their 20 overs as Rachin Ravindra claimed a career-best 4/27, as the Kiwis kept their semi-finals hopes alive.
Sri Lanka crawled to 20/2 in the powerplay and failed to build any momentum, before Ravindra sliced through the fragile Lankan middle order.
Since their successful campaign in the 2014 edition, Sri Lanka have not advanced to the T20 World Cup semifinals.
Sri Lanka needed an emphatic win to stay alive in the tournament, instead they were knocked out with a devastating defeat.
New Zealand would top the Super Eights group and join England in the semi-finals if they defeat Harry Brook’s team on Friday.
If the Kiwis lose to England on Friday, Pakistan have a chance but they would need a big win against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday to sneak through on net run rate.
Earlier, after a mini-collapse, New Zealand recovered to post 168/7.
Sri Lanka had New Zealand reeling at 84/6 in the 13th over, but Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie’s 84-run partnership off 47 deliveries for the seventh wicket brought New Zealand back into the match.
Captain Santner top scored with 47 off 26 balls, including two fours and four sixes. Recalled to the side, McConchie scored an unbeaten 31 from 23 balls.
Maheesh Theekshana claimed 3/9 in his first three overs by deftly combining his off-breaks and carrom balls, making it difficult for New Zealand to read him. In six deliveries, New Zealand lost three wickets for 0 runs from 84/3.
New Zealand scored 70 runs in the final four overs, including Theekshana’s 21 off the last one. Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera returned with figures of 3/38.
