New Zealand has recovered from a poor start to \u200bcrush Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the Twenty20 World Cup super eights stage and eliminate the co-hosts from the tournament.<\/p>\n
Mitchell Santner led New Zealand’s recovery with a captain’s knock of 47 off 26 balls after coming in with his side in huge trouble at 5-84 \u200bto power them to a competitive \u200c7-168 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka only managed 8-107 in reply, never recovering from a top-order collapse to succumb to their second defeat in this stage of the 20-team tournament.<\/p>\n
Rachin Ravindra (4-27) and Matt Henry (2-3) impressed with the ball for New \u200cZealand.<\/p>\n
“It’s embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd; they’ve been very supportive,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said.<\/p>\n
“We wanted \u2060to restrict them to 130 but, to be honest, they played really well, \u200cso we must give them credit.”<\/p>\n
Having lost to \u200bEngland in their first super eight \u200cmatch, it was a do-or-die game for Sri Lanka and they initially showed a sense of urgency with the ball after electing to field.<\/p>\n
New Zealand got off to a strong start before losing openers Finn Allen (23 off 13 balls) and Tim Seifert (8 off 9) in successive overs.<\/p>\n
The Black Caps were 2-75 in the 10th over before the Sri \u200bLankan \u200cspinners wreaked havoc to reduce them to 6-84, with Ravindra (32 off 22), Mark Chapman (0) and Daryl Mitchell (3) falling in the space of six balls for no run.<\/p>\n
Santner joined Cole McConchie, who made 31 not out, in a rapid \u206047-ball stand of 84 that proved decisive.<\/p>\n
Santner smacked four sixes \u200cas New Zealand plundered 70 runs \u200cfrom the last four overs to ensure their bowlers had a decent total to defend.<\/p>\n
Henry bowled Pathum Nissanka for a duck \u200cwith the first ball of the Sri Lankan innings and deceived Charith Asalanka (5) with a slower delivery in his next over.<\/p>\n
Player of the match Ravindra then whittled out Sri Lanka’s middle \u200corder to \u200bderail the chase.<\/p>\n