Co-hosts Sri Lanka are out of the T20 World Cup after collapsing to a 61-run defeat by New Zealand in Colombo.
Needing to win to maintain their semi-final hopes alive, Sri Lanka in management late into the New Zealand innings, having restricted them to 98-6 after 16 overs.
Nevertheless, the bowlers crumbled within the face of a late surge from Mitchell Santner (47 from 26 balls) and Cole McConchie (31 not out from 23) and New Zealand bludgeoned 70 from the ultimate 4 overs.
A chase of 169 left the sport within the stability however Sri Lanka’s high order folded, with quick bowler Matt Henry taking two wickets within the powerplay.
From there, the house aspect didn’t generate any momentum and when Rachin Ravindra had each Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake stumped within the ninth over, Sri Lanka have been 29-4 and the sport was up.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra, who made 32 from 22 with the bat, took an extra two wickets to finish with figures of 4-27, whereas Henry was afforded the remainder of the evening off after taking 2-3 from his two overs as Sri Lanka dragged themselves to 107-8.
After shedding to England of their opening Tremendous 8s recreation, Sri Lanka depart with a whimper whereas New Zealand stay in rivalry to succeed in a fifth T20 World Cup semi-final.
For a lot of the primary innings, although, Sri Lanka’s bowlers appeared like being the match-winners, with spinner Maheesh Theekshana taking 3-9 from his first three overs and quick bowler Dushmantha Chameera additionally impressing.
They led the best way as New Zealand slumped from 75-2 to 84-6 in lower than three overs.
However Sri Lanka failed to complete the job and McConchie started the fightback earlier than his captain took over with a brutal show of hitting, dismantling a abruptly fragile Sri Lanka assault, in a stand of 84.
It took New Zealand to a aggressive whole that, finally, proved greater than ok because the spinners took over and Sri Lanka fell aside.
Each side have one Tremendous 8s recreation remaining. New Zealand can seal their place within the semi-finals with victory over England on Friday, whereas Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Pallekele on Saturday.
