Colombo, February 25 Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts, were eliminated from the T20 World Cup on Wednesday as Rachin Ravindra took 4/27 in a brilliant all-round performance, helping New Zealand secure a comprehensive 61-run victory in their Super Eights match here.
Cole McConchie justified his selection with an unbeaten 31 off 23 balls (3x4, 2x6), while captain Mitchell Santner contributed 47 off 26 balls (2x4, 4x6), forming a crucial 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket off 47 balls, helping New Zealand reach 168/7 after Sri Lanka chose to bat.
Having allowed the Kiwis to score 70 runs in the last four overs, Sri Lanka, who had collapsed for 95 against England in their Super Eights opener, suffered another batting failure.
Chasing 169, Sri Lanka could only score 107/8, with Ravindra, who also scored 32, leading the spin attack after pacer Matt Henry bowled brilliantly, taking 2 wickets in the powerplay.
This emphatic victory not only secured two crucial points for New Zealand but also put them firmly on the verge of a semi-final berth. Pakistan will now need a big win in their final game against Sri Lanka to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
New Zealand will next face England in their concluding Super Eights match here on Friday, while Pakistan will take on the already eliminated Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.
New Zealand defended 168, with Henry restricting Sri Lanka in the powerplay. The pacer dismissed in-form Pathum Nissanka for a duck with a 137kph delivery that pitched outside off, bounced back, and hit the stumps.
In the first ball of his next over, Henry removed Charith Asalanka (5), this time taking the pace off and inducing a mistimed shot that resulted in an easy catch.
Sri Lanka looked devastated and finished the powerplay at 20/2 with a series of dot balls.
Ravindra then took control, dismissing Kusal Mendis by pulling the length back and spinning the ball away as the batter stepped out, allowing the wicketkeeper to complete a sharp stumping.
Two balls later, Pavan Rathnayake charged down the track only to be dismissed for a duck.
Ravindra struck again in his next over, deceiving Dasun Shanaka with a misjudged shot before removing Dushan Hemantha with another delivery that gripped and turned.
Santner quietly completed his quota, taking 1/19, and effectively sealed Sri Lanka's fate and their elimination.
Invited to bat, New Zealand lost four wickets for nine runs between the 9.3rd and 12.1st overs, as wily off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/30) and pacer Dushmantha Chameera (3/38) turned the game around in the middle overs.
However, McConchie then smashed Chameera for two sixes and a four in an 18-run over in the 17th.
Santner then targeted Theekshana, hitting a four and two sixes in the 18th over, gaining momentum in the final overs.
The Kiwi duo plundered 70 runs in the last four overs, while Sri Lanka, who had otherwise bowled well and put in a strong fielding performance, faltered at the death with wayward lines and a noticeable dip in intensity.
But the situation looked different at the halfway stage.
On a fresh Khettarama surface that appeared dry, wily off-spinner Theekshana and pacer Chameera shared six wickets between them to stifle New Zealand after they had raced to 73/2 after nine overs.
Finn Allen smashed 23 off 13 balls (3x4, 1x6), attacking Dilshan Madushanka and Dunith Wellalage, while Ravindra looked fluent in his 32 off 22 balls (3x4, 1x6).
Theekshana then applied the brakes beautifully. He varied his pace and angle, first removing Allen inside the powerplay with his carrom ball.
He later dismissed the well-set Ravindra with a teasingly flighted delivery that induced a mistimed slice.
In three balls, he bowled Mark Chapman for a two-ball duck with a cleverly disguised wrong one that spun past the left-hander's defence.
Chameera complemented him superbly, hitting the deck hard in excess of 140 kph to dismiss Tim Seifert (8) and Glenn Phillips (18), while Wellalage accounted for Daryl Mitchell (3).
