Feb 25 • 20:29 UTC 🇦🇺 Australia ABC News AU

Sri Lanka makes 'embarrassing' T20 World Cup exit against New Zealand

Sri Lanka was defeated by New Zealand in the super eights stage of the Twenty20 World Cup, leading to their elimination from the tournament.

In a disappointing performance, Sri Lanka was eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup after losing to New Zealand by 61 runs during the super eights stage held in Colombo. Captain Dasun Shanaka expressed his embarrassment for failing to deliver a competitive performance in front of the home crowd, as Sri Lanka managed to score only 107 runs in response to New Zealand’s 168. This match marked Sri Lanka’s second defeat in the tournament, showcasing significant struggles in their batting lineup, particularly after a collapse in the top order.

New Zealand's innings were revitalized by a strong performance from captain Mitchell Santner, who scored 47 off 26 balls, helping recover from a precarious position at 5-84. His leadership on the field was evident as he guided his team to a total of 168 after being in dire straits earlier in the match. Bowlers Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry played pivotal roles in decimating the Sri Lankan batting order, with Ravindra taking four wickets for 27 runs and Henry cementing the victory with his remarkable bowling figures.

This result not only sees Sri Lanka's hopes of advancing in the tournament dashed but also highlights New Zealand's resilience and ability to perform under pressure. With England having already secured a semifinal spot, the remaining matches will determine which teams will join them, as several teams vie for the crucial opportunities in the knockout stages of the competition.

📡 Similar Coverage