Last Updated: August 19, 2026
Direct Answer: New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the 46th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. New Zealand posted 168/7 in 20 overs, powered by Mitchell Santner’s 47 off 26 balls. Sri Lanka managed 107/8, with Rachin Ravindra starring with 4/27 and earning Player of the Match honours.
Match Information
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | NZ vs SL • 46th Match, Super 8 Group 2 (Y2 v Y4) |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL, 1:30 PM GMT, 7:00 PM IST |
| Toss | Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Umpires | Allahudien Paleker, Asif Yaqoob |
| 3rd Umpire | Rod Tucker |
| Referee | Richie Richardson |
| Result | New Zealand won by 61 runs |
| New Zealand Score | 168/7 (20 overs) |
| Sri Lanka Score | 107/8 (20 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Rachin Ravindra – 32 (22) & 4/27 |
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert (wk) | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Finn Allen | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 176.92 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 32 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 145.45 |
| Glenn Phillips | 18 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Mark Chapman | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 47 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 180.77 |
| Cole McConchie | 31* | 23 | 3 | 2 | 134.78 |
| Extras | 6 | ||||
| Total | 168/7 | 20 Overs | RR: 8.40 |
Sri Lanka Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11.30 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.80 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.30 |
New Zealand scored 168/7 in 20 overs, with Mitchell Santner leading the recovery with 47 off 26 balls and Cole McConchie adding an unbeaten 31. Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera took three wickets each for Sri Lanka, but New Zealand finished strongly after a middle-order collapse.
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | 11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 31 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 134.78 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 29 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 126.09 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 7* | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 7 | ||||
| Total | 107/8 | 20 Overs | RR: 5.35 |
New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 |
| Cole McConchie | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6.70 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.80 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6.80 |
| Glenn Phillips | 4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.20 |
Sri Lanka struggled throughout the chase and finished at 107/8 in 20 overs, falling well short of New Zealand’s 169-run target. Kamindu Mendis was the top scorer with 31 off 23 balls, while Dunith Wellalage added 29 from 23. However, the early loss of Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka put Sri Lanka under pressure.
New Zealand’s bowling attack kept control of the innings. Rachin Ravindra was the standout performer with 4/27, while Matt Henry took 2/3 from his two overs. Mitchell Santner also bowled economically, taking one wicket for 19 runs. Sri Lanka’s slow scoring rate of 5.35 ultimately ended their hopes of chasing the target.
Rachin Ravindra: The Complete Match Winner
If one player deserves to be placed at the center of the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Stats, it is Rachin Ravindra.
He scored 32 from 22 balls in the first innings. That was useful, but his biggest contribution came later.
With the ball, Ravindra took 4/27 from four overs. He dismissed Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka and Dushan Hemantha.
That combination of runs and wickets earned him the Player of the Match award.
Expert Opinion: The key value of Ravindra’s performance was not simply the number of wickets. He kept striking when Sri Lanka needed to rebuild. In a T20 chase, regular wickets can be more damaging than one expensive over because they stop partnerships from developing.
Mitchell Santner’s Captain’s Knock Deserves Credit
Ravindra may have taken the main award, but Santner’s innings deserves plenty of attention.
New Zealand were 84/6. Santner walked into a situation where another quick wicket could have left the team with a below-par score. Instead, he combined patience with calculated aggression.
His 47 from 26 balls included four sixes, and he finished with a strike rate of 180.77.
That was captaincy with a bat in hand.
The partnership with McConchie was even more important. They added 84 runs from 47 balls and turned the game around before Sri Lanka had even begun their chase.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Matches: What This Game Shows
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Matches have often produced competitive cricket across formats, but this particular contest was heavily influenced by momentum.
New Zealand were not perfect. Their middle order collapsed. Sri Lanka’s bowlers created pressure. The match could easily have developed into a low-scoring contest.
Instead, Santner and McConchie changed the script.
Then Henry and Ravindra made Sri Lanka’s chase uncomfortable from the beginning.
That is why the final 61-run margin should not fool anyone into thinking New Zealand cruised through the entire match. They did not. They survived a major batting wobble and then dominated the second innings.
New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team: Key Numbers
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Stats provide several quick takeaways:
- New Zealand scored 168/7.
- Sri Lanka finished on 107/8.
- New Zealand’s winning margin was 61 runs.
- Santner scored 47 from 26 balls.
- McConchie remained unbeaten on 31 from 23.
- Ravindra scored 32 runs and took 4/27.
- Theekshana took 3/30 for Sri Lanka.
- Chameera took 3/38.
- Sri Lanka’s powerplay score was only 20/2.
- New Zealand scored 70 runs in the final four overs.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Today Match: What Was the Result?
For readers searching New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Today Match, the match covered in this article was the February 25, 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 fixture, not a current August 2026 fixture.
New Zealand won by 61 runs, with their 168/7 comfortably ahead of Sri Lanka’s 107/8.
The result was also significant in the tournament. The ICC reported that Sri Lanka were knocked out of semi-final contention after their second successive Super Eight defeat, while New Zealand strengthened their position in the race for the final four.
Where to Watch New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team?
If you are searching Where to Watch New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, this particular match has already been completed, so live viewing is no longer applicable.
For the official match information, scorecard and tournament coverage, readers can check the ICC official website and the Cricbuzz scorecard. The Cricbuzz page contains the scorecard, commentary, squads, graphs and other match information.
For searches such as New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Today Match Live, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Live Score, or New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Cricket, always check the date and competition before assuming a result refers to a current game.
Review: Was New Zealand’s Win Fully Deserved?
Absolutely, but it was not a straightforward victory.
Sri Lanka deserve credit for putting New Zealand under pressure during the first innings. Reducing the opposition to 84/6 was excellent work. The problem was failing to finish the job.
New Zealand’s response was impressive because the lower order did exactly what was required. Santner and McConchie absorbed pressure first and attacked later.
Then came the bowling performance.
Henry’s opening burst, Ravindra’s four wickets and disciplined support from the rest of the attack left Sri Lanka without enough momentum. The hosts also struggled to score boundaries, which made the required rate increasingly uncomfortable.
Expert Opinion: The biggest takeaway is simple: T20 matches can turn in four overs. New Zealand’s final four overs with the bat transformed the contest, while Sri Lanka’s first six overs with the bat almost ended their chase before it had properly started.
Conclusion
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the 2026 T20 World Cup is a perfect example of why T20 cricket is rarely finished until the final ball.
New Zealand were wobbling at 84/6. Then Santner and McConchie produced a remarkable recovery, adding 84 runs and pushing the total to 168/7. Sri Lanka never found the same rhythm in the chase. Matt Henry struck immediately, Ravindra kept taking wickets, and Sri Lanka ended on 107/8.
The final result was a 61-run New Zealand victory.
For anyone studying the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Matches, this game offers a particularly useful lesson: scoreboard pressure is created not only by the top order. Sometimes the lower order walks in, starts swinging, and completely changes the story.
And that is exactly what happened in Colombo.
FAQs
1. Who won the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026 match?
New Zealand won the match by 61 runs. New Zealand scored 168/7, while Sri Lanka finished on 107/8.
2. What was New Zealand’s score against Sri Lanka?
New Zealand scored 168/7 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
3. What was Sri Lanka’s score against New Zealand?
Sri Lanka scored 107/8 in 20 overs in their chase.
4. Who was Player of the Match?
Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Match after scoring 32 runs and taking four wickets for 27 runs.
5. Who scored the most runs for New Zealand?
Mitchell Santner was New Zealand’s top scorer with 47 runs from 26 balls. Cole McConchie remained unbeaten on 31.
6. Who took the most wickets in the match?
Rachin Ravindra took the most wickets, finishing with 4/27 for New Zealand.
7. How many runs did Kamindu Mendis score?
Kamindu Mendis scored 31 runs from 23 balls, including four fours.
8. How many wickets did Maheesh Theekshana take?
Maheesh Theekshana took 3 wickets for 30 runs from four overs.
9. Where was New Zealand vs Sri Lanka played?
The match was played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
10. When was the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Super 8 match played?
The match was played on February 25, 2026, as part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super 8 stage.
11. What happened to Sri Lanka after the defeat?
The defeat was Sri Lanka’s second consecutive loss in the Super Eight stage and ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
12. Where can I check the full New Zealand vs Sri Lanka scorecard?
You can check the complete scorecard, bowling figures, fall of wickets and other match details on Cricbuzz.
Thank you for reading!
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