Colombo, February 25 – Skipper Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie produced one of the greatest lower-order recoveries in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup, helping New Zealand reach 168/7 in their 20 overs against Sri Lanka in their Super Eights clash at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.
The pair added 84 runs for the seventh wicket, the highest partnership at that position in the tournament's history, surpassing the 74-run partnership between Michael Hussey and Steve Smith against Bangladesh at Bridgetown in 2010. Their effort – Santner scoring 47 and McConchie hitting 31 not out – came after New Zealand had slumped to 98/6 in 16 overs.
Santner and McConchie plundered 70 runs in the final four overs, punishing Sri Lanka's bowlers for bowling a series of full tosses and loose deliveries in the final overs. McConchie's clean hitting silenced the Colombo crowd, while Santner provided crucial support with timely boundaries to take the Blackcaps to a competitive score.
For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera picked up 3-30 and 3-38 respectively, but they will be wondering if the damage done in the last four overs will prove costly. Initially, New Zealand's top order faltered after a brisk start from Finn Allen, who hit four boundaries in the first three overs.
However, after that, Sri Lanka's bowling show began – Allen was caught and bowled by Theekshana for a subdued dismissal, while Tim Seifert pulled to deep square leg off Chameera. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips hit a few boundaries in a brief partnership.
But Sri Lanka continued to chip away – Phillips was dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Chameera, while Ravindra cut straight to backward point off Theekshana, who clean bowled Mark Chapman, while Dunith Wellalage dismissed Daryl Mitchell in the same fashion.
At that stage, Sri Lanka looked set to restrict New Zealand to a below-par total. But an 18-run 17th over off Chameera swung momentum back in New Zealand's favour, and Santner and McConchie seized the advantage by scoring 21, 19 and 12 runs in the final three overs, changing the way New Zealand ended their innings.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 168/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Rachin Ravindra 32; Maheesh Theekshana 3-30, Dushmantha Chameera 3-38) against Sri Lanka