Colombo, February 25 – New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised his team’s resilience and disciplined bowling after a 61-run victory over Sri Lanka, securing their hopes of reaching the Men’s T20 World Cup semi-finals. He noted that a score of 160 or more was achievable, even with the Sri Lankan bowlers putting pressure on them at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Santner and Cole McConchie forged a record 84-run partnership to take New Zealand to 168/7, after they had been reduced to 84/6. The spinners, led by Rachin Ravindra’s 4/27, dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase and left them at 107/8, resulting in a decisive victory.
“It was definitely a challenging game with the amount of spin on the ball. They put us under a lot of pressure. I think we lost six wickets, which is never ideal, but I think we managed to stay in the game for a while, and we aimed for 140, but that would have been enough,” Santner said.
Reflecting on his own performance, Santner said, “I was really pleased with my innings. It was a good opportunity to build a partnership, and I think Cole and I were thinking the same thing. It was tough to stay focused, but we managed to get to 160, which was a great achievement.”
He praised McConchie's composure. “It was definitely a challenging game with the amount of spin on the ball. Both teams found it difficult to score runs. So, with that in mind, it was important to stay focused and try to take wickets.”
On Ravindra’s spell, Santner said: “We knew that Ravindra was a dangerous bowler. He was able to control the pace of the game, and that made it difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen.”
Looking ahead, Santner acknowledged the challenge of facing England. “They are a strong team, and we know that. We will need to play our best cricket to beat them.”
Ravindra, who was named Player of the Match, said the team delivered a complete performance. “It's always pleasing to win a game like this, especially in the opponent's home conditions. Credit to Sri Lanka, they played a good game of cricket.”
He explained how his batting time informed his bowling approach. “I understand that slow bowling is effective in these conditions, and that's why I bowled it so effectively.”
Ravindra stressed the importance of contributing in multiple roles. “For me, it’s about offering a contribution to the team, and that’s what’s important. I was able to bat in the top three and also contribute with the ball, which helped the team.”
He also praised the atmosphere at the venue. “The Sri Lankan crowd was amazing. They created a great atmosphere, and it was a great experience to play in front of such a passionate crowd.”
