Kiwis Triumph Over Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup Showdown
Kiwis Secure Victory Against Sri Lanka
In a historic match for New Zealand, captain Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra played pivotal roles as they defeated co-hosts Sri Lanka by 61 runs during their ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Colombo on Wednesday. The Kiwis showcased their dominance, limiting Sri Lanka to just 107 runs while chasing a target of 169.
New Zealand's Record-Breaking Partnership
After Sri Lanka chose to bowl first, they managed to restrict New Zealand to 84 runs for the loss of six wickets, putting their semifinal hopes in jeopardy. However, Santner (47 runs off 26 balls, including two fours and four sixes) and Cole McConchie (31 not out off 23 balls, with three fours and two sixes) formed a remarkable partnership, adding 84 runs for the seventh wicket. This partnership set a new tournament record for the seventh wicket or lower, surpassing the previous record of 74 runs held by Steve Smith and Mike Hussey against Bangladesh in 2010.
Santner Joins Elite All-Rounders Club
With his impressive performance, Santner has now joined an exclusive group of all-rounders from Test-playing nations, including Shakib Al Hasan and Hardik Pandya, who have achieved the milestone of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 internationals. To date, Santner has taken 137 wickets and scored 1,021 runs in 88 innings, boasting an average of 20.01 and a strike rate of 131.74, with a top score of 77 not out.
Santner's Best Year in T20I Batting
In 2023, Santner has played 10 T20Is and scored 173 runs across eight innings, averaging 34.60 with a strike rate exceeding 158. His best performance this year was an unbeaten 47, marking a significant improvement in his batting as a lower-order player.
Rachin Ravindra's Bowling Brilliance
Sri Lanka struggled to reach 107 runs, with notable contributions from Kamindu Mendis (31 runs off 23 balls) and Dunith Wellalage (29 runs off 23 balls). Rachin Ravindra, who also scored 32 runs off 22 balls, delivered a stellar bowling performance, claiming four wickets and dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
Rachin's Impressive T20 World Cup Figures
Rachin's bowling figures of 4 wickets for 27 runs rank as the third-best by a New Zealand bowler in T20 World Cup history, following Santner's 4/11 against India in 2016 and Daniel Vettori's 4/20 against India in 2007.