New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Highlights, World Cup 2023: NZ beats SL by five wickets to virtually seal last semis spot

FOUR! Phillips drives this down the ground as Madushanka overpitches. FOUR! Pulled away to the boundary behind square-leg and New Zealand wins by five wickets with plenty to spare.

Beaten! Phillips looks to lift this over the in-field on off-side off Mathews length delivery but is beaten. Driven through the off-side for a single by Phillips. FOUR! Straying on the pads and put away to the fine-leg boundary by Mitchell with ease. OUT! Mitchell ends up chipping this high in the air as Mathews takes the pace off the ball. The ball balloons in the deep behind point and a stunning effort diving forward by Asalanka to complete this catch. Latham comes in and Mathews straight away goes up for a leg-before review as Latham misses a flick down leg-side. But the ball is pitching outside the line of leg-stump and Sri Lanka loses the review. A couple to end the over and Latham is off the mark.

Madushanka returns. Pushed down the ground for a single by Mitchell. Short and pulled away by Phillips with brute force to deep midwicket for just a single. Off the inside half of the bat of Mitchell to long-on for one more. Short, goes over Phillips attempted pull and called wide for height. Tucked off his hips by Phillips for a couple at deep midwicket. Full ball clipped off the pads for one more by Phillips and he will keep strike.

Mathews with the ball. Spanked to long-off by Mitchell for a single. OUT! Confusion in the middle and Chapman is run out. He swung his bat for the fences but got an inside edge that went off his legs to square-leg. Mitchell hared off for a single and Chapman first sent him back but then was forced to sacrifice himself for the set batter. He is fuming as he walks off. Glenn Phillips comes in and starts off with FOUR! He slashes hard outside off stump and the ball goes in the air but through the gap between point and backward point.

Madushanka comes back. FOUR! Back of a length outside off and Chapman swats this over the covers for his first boundary. This is pushed to mid-on for a single next ball by Chapman. Driven to long-off by Mitchell for one more. Three successive singles as Chapman comes back for one more. FOUR! Full, in the slot and Mitchell slogs and finds the midwicket boundary. Full and Mitchell hammers this straight and the ball goes off the bowler and dribbles to mid-on for a single. The ball went off Madushanka’s boot and it looks like he has hurt himself as the physio is on the field to check on him.

Mathews again with the ball. FOUR! Short and this is pulled away to the midwicket boundary. FOUR! Williamson chops on and has to go. Mark Chapman is the new man in. Wide down leg-side by Mathews. Chapman is off the mark with a tight single after punching the ball to mid-off. Mitchell defends solidly on the off-side to end the over with two dot balls.

Theekshana with the ball. SIX! Mitchell walks down the track and launches this over long-off for a maximum. Punched to long-on for one more. Williamson clips this off his pads for a single to end the over.

Angelo Mathews comes into the attack. Williamson spanks this back of a length ball outside off for a single. Shortish, it sits up for Mitchell to hit and he launches this towards the midwicket fence for a couple of runs. Four runs from the first three balls. FOUR! This is punched beautifully through covers by Williamson for a boundary. He dabs the next ball for a single at deep third. One more for Mitchell to end the over.

Theekshana beats Williamson outside off first ball of the over. The next one turns into him and hits Williamson high on the back pad. Full toss after that and flicked down the ground for a single. FOUR! Reverse-sweep again from Mitchell and this goes to the backward point boundary. Defended back to the bowler to end the over.

Chameera again. Williamson gets an outside edge that evades the slip fielder and just a single. Huge appeal for caught behind as Mitchell comes down the wicket and is beaten outside off. Mendis decides not to review it and that turns out to be a good decision as there was no bat on this and it flicked the back pad on the way to the keeper. SIX! This is slapped down the ground for a six by Mitchell. It went high up in the air, didn’t come off the middle of the bat but still went the distance. FOUR! Full on the pads and Mitchell shimmies out and clips this over midwicket for another boundary.

Theekshana again. Ravindra makes good use of his feet and punches to long-off for a single. Punched to long-off by Williamson and he is off the mark with a single. OUT! Ravindra looks to slog sweep this over the in-field on leg-side but doesn’t get the elevation and ends up handing a catch at mid-on. Big wicket for Sri Lanka and both openers are back in the hut. Here comes Daryl Mitchell. FOUR! First ball reverse-sweep and he beats the backward point fielder to fetch a boundary. Full-toss next up and Mitchell reverse-sweeps this to the short-third fielder and misses an opportunity to absolutely belt this delivery over the fence.

Chameera continues. Blocked with the inside half of the bat by Conway to mid-on. OUT! Conway has to go. He gave Chameera the charge and ended up handing a catch at midwicket as the ball flew off the inside half of the bat. Kane Williamson is in next. He dabs the first one to backward point. This is punched to point by Williamson. He now hops and punched this short delivery and stopped by the cover fielder. A bit of bottom edge as Williamson defends this one. Maiden wicket for Chameera.

Theekshana to bowl his fourth over. FOUR! Ravindra rocks back and pulls this through midwicket for another boundary. This is whipped to long-on for one more. Punched by Conway to long-on for one more and he will keep strike.

Chameera again. Steered to point for a dot ball by Ravindra. Dabbed again to point by Ravindra for a second consecutive dot ball. SIX! Short and pulled away on the front foot by Ravindra for a maximum over midwicket. This is whipped through cover and point for one more. A couple of dots to end the over.

FOUR! Theekshana comes back and is punished by Conway, who goes back and cuts this hard behind point for a boundary. A couple of solid defensive shots now from Conway. FOUR! Now off the front foot, Conway drives this through cover-point and finds the fence. Full, darting in on the pads, and defended by Conway. Punched to mid-off to end the over.

Dushmantha Chameera into the attack. Starts off with a short of a length ball on leg-stump and defended back to the bowler. Ravindra pushes the ball to mid-off and hares for a quick single. A direct-hit at non-striker’s end is reviewed but Ravindra is comfortably home. This is fended off awkwardly by Conway on leg-side for quick single and uneven bounce has troubled Conway on two occassions in this over. The physio is out to have a look at Conway’s hand as he seems to have been hit by the last short delivery.

Theekshana again. Conway gets a single at long-off. SIX! Dispatched with absolute disdain. Ravindra slog sweeps this over deep midwicket for a maximum. FOUR! Next ball he moves his feet well and cuts this with authority through point for a boundary. He keeps strike with a single at long-off off the last ball of the over.

Madushanka again. Full and driven by Conway to mid-off for a dot ball. FOUR! Driven on the up by Conway and this goes over the cover fielder for a boundary. FOUR! Full on the legs and Conway whips this through midwicket for another boundary. That’s 50 up for the Kiwis in 6.3 overs. Full on the pads and pushed down the ground for a quick single by Conway. Beaten! This whizzes past Conway’s outside edge as the ball deviates just a bit and leaves the left-hander to beat his drive.

Dhananjaya de Silva into the attack. Dragged short and Ravindra rocks back and pulls this to long-on for a single. Tucked on the leg-side by Conway for a single next ball. SIX! Ravindra clears his front leg and lofts this over wide long-off for a maximum. Imperious shot. Ten runs from the over.

Madushanka again. FOUR! Shortish outside off and Conway gets a thick outside edge as he goes fetching wide outside and the ball flies past the diving keeper to the boundary. A couple more as Conway whips the next one through square-leg. FOUR! Incredible timing. He just gently patted the ball to mid-on and beat the diving fielder there to fetch another boundary. FOUR! Short and this is duly pulled to the square-leg boundary.

Theekshana will continue. Full outside off and drilled to long-off for a single by Ravindra. Tossed up on middle and driven down the ground by Conway for one more. Theekshana troubles Ravindra a bit with his carrom ball that turns into the left-hander.

Pushed to point by Conway for a dot ball. Another dot as Conway defends tentatively outside the off-stump. Conway prods outside off and the bowler looks very interested in a caught-behind dismissal. He pleads the captain to go upstairs and he obliges. There is significant gap between bat and ball and Conway survives. FOUR! Full on the toes and Conway drives this down the ground with ease for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana from the other end. Ravindra starts off by punching a length ball back to him. Similar shot to the bowler next ball. Sliding down leg-side and clipped off the pads for a couple. Cut away behind point and a misfield allows the batters to steal a couple of runs. This is defended solidly off the front foot on the off-side. FOUR! Beautifully driven through covers as Ravindra opens the face of the bat on the drive.

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra will begin the run-chase for the Kiwis. Huge cheer from the crowd as Rachin’s name is announced. The tournament’s highest wicket-taker, Dilshan Madushanka, has the new ball. Two slips in place. Full outside off and Conway taps it gently to cover. Slightly shorter outside off and blocked. Length ball on off-stump and defended to the bowler. Four dots in a row. FOUR! Short and this is pulled away by Conway through midwicket for a boundary. Last ball of the over is left alone outside off.

New Zealand will be happy with the target but given where the Lankan innings was at one stage, it would know it took too long to get the final wicket. Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka and Dushmantha Chameera did their best to frustrate the Kiwi bowlers and give their side a total to fight for.

Ravindra to continue. Theekshana works a delivery angling down to fine leg for one run. WICKET! Ravindra finally gets the last wicket. Pitches and turns away from Madushanka who gets a faint edge to it.

Three runs in the Southee over as Sri Lanka inches closer to playing out the full 50 overs.

​

NZ vs SL: Theekshana, Madushanka register Sri Lanka’s highest 10th wicket partnership in World Cup history

Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka frustrated New Zealand’s bowlers and registered the highest 10th wicket partnership for Sri Lanka in a World Cup match.

Ravindra again. Another run for Madushanka with a backfoot punch through point. Theekshana makes room to work the final delivery to deep cover and keep strike.

Theekshana drives Southee’s delivery to the left of mid off to take a single. Madushanka opens his bat face to work a delivery outside off stump to third man.

Ravindra for his sixth over. Theekshana taps the first to cover and completes a single.

Glenn Phillips to bowl his first over. Pitches short and Theekshana pulls it to fine leg for one run. Madushanka punches the fifth to deep point for one run. Another run for Theekshana to deep cover.

Southee back into the attack. FOUR for Madushanka. Hits it over mid wicket. Just the boundary from the over.

Lockie to Theekshana. Adds a run to his tally with a run down to third man. Madushanka is able to collect a single even off a bouncer. The ball goes down to fine leg off his glove which allows the run. Theekshana is hit by another short delivery and he is in pain. The physio is out to check.

Theekshana punches the first delivery from Ravindra to deep cover to get a single. Another single, this time for Madushanka through point. Theekshana punches the final delivery down to long on for a single.

Madushanka defends Lockie’s first delivery but an inside edge takes it to mid wicket, allowing a single. An edge to third man gives another run to Theekshana. FOUR! Madushanka gets it off his toe but over cover and point. Sri Lanka reaches 150!

Just two singles from Rachin Ravindra’s over. Madushanka gets a full toss on the final delivery which he nearly hands to deep cover.

Trent Boult for his final over. A wide in the over adds a run to SL’s tally. Theekshana slashes the fourth delivery over cover for one run.

Ravindra for his third over. Theekshana’s shot goes up in the air and lands between three fielders. He continues to frustrate NZ.- Three runs from the over.

Boult again. FOUR! Theekshana plays a cross-batted shot on an overpitched delivery to send it past mid on. Gets a single on the fifth delivery. It is a close call with Williamson aiming for the striker’s end but Madushanka gets in in time.

Rachin Ravindra strikes! Chameera’s defiance ends. Flighted outside off and he pokes at it. Ends up tossing it to point.

Dushmantha Chameera c Boult b Ravindra 1 (20)

Dilshan Madushanka is off the mark right away with a single. Theekshana cuts to deep point to keep strike for the next over.

Boult to Theekshana. Boult is able to trap him on the pads on the final delivery and Williamson goes for a review. There is no inside edge but this one looks to be going down leg. The ball tracker confirms it and NZ loses its second review.

Theekshana slaps Santner through covers but Mark Chapman is quick in covering ground at long off which keeps it to single. Two more singles in the over.

Alright, Kane Williamson has had enough. He gets his strike bowler Trent Boult back to wrap up the tail. PUT DOWN! The last delivery of the over sees Chameera tap a simple catch back towards Boult whose one-handed effort is not enough to grasp it. The end of another maiden.

A maiden over from Mitchell Santner.

Ferguson to Theekshana. Gets a single on the fifth delivery to third man. Chameera needs to see off just one ball which he does.

Santner to Theekshana, FOUR! Chips it over the infield for a welcome boundary. FOUR more! Now he drives through covers. Drives the fifth delivery to long off for a single.

Ferguson to continue. Theekshana taps a delivery wide of the fly slip fielder and runs one. Chameera defends a delivery fired in at the stumps. He ducks away from a bouncer on the penultimate delivery.

Santner again. Theekshana drives down the ground to long off to pick one. A fine silly point and slip in place for Chameera but he survives.

Ferguson to continue. Karunaratne on strike. OUT! Karunaratne edges to the keeper. Tries to drive from outside the line and ends up getting an edge.

Chamika Karunaratne c Latham b Ferguson 6 (17)

Dushmantha Chameera in now. And he is struck on the pad first up. New Zealand goes up to check this. There is a thick inside edge which saves him.

Santner again. Karunaratne punches the first delivery to deep cover for one run. Theekshana defends the rest.

Lockie Ferguson back for his second spell. He bangs in a couple of short deliveries to Theekshana who gets out of their way. A maiden over.

Santner for his fifth over. Theekshana punches through covers to collect the only run of the over.

Rachin Ravindra for the first time. Karunaratne on strike. Drives the second delivery down to long on for a single. Theekshana gets an edge to backward point which is enough to run one. FOUR! Angling down leg and Karunaratne sweeps it to the fence.

Santner to de Silva. He looks to punch a length delilvery down the ground but the ball holds and prevents the shot. GONE! De Silva is caught at slip. Pushes at a delivery turning away from his body. A thick outside edge and another catch for Mitchell at first slip.

Dhananjaya de Silva c Mitchell b Santner 18 (24)

Maheesh Theekshana in now. There is a second slip for him too.

Southee to de Silva, one run on the first delivery. Five dots for Karunaratne.

Santner to bowl again. WICKET! The slip comes into play. Mathews falls! A change of pace from the bowler. Fires it slightly quicker and the ball rushes onto Mathews with some extra bounce. An edge pops up kindly for Daryl Mitchell and he grabs it.

Angelo Mathews c Mitchell b Santner 16 (27)

Chamika Karunaratne is the new batter.

Southee for his fourth over. On the pads first up and Mathews clips to deep square leg to pick a single. SIX off the final delivery. Chips a good length delivery over long on. That is 100 for Sri Lanka.

Santner to continue. De Silva taps the second delivery to square leg for a single. EDGE! Bounce and turn on the third delivery which gets Mathews’ edge and flies past Latham, one run taken. A slip in place now. Four runs from the over.

A bouncer from Lockie and Mathews guides it down to third man for one run. The second is on the off stump and de Silva defends. FOUR for de Silva! Cuts it from close to his body and beats the infield. A single on the next delivery.

Mitchell Santner for his first over. A single for Mathews to deep mid wicket. That is the only run from the over.

Lockie to continue. De Silva swivels and glances to fine leg for one run. CHANCE! Mathews closes the bat face a little early and gets a thick leading edge. Glenn Phillips with a dive at point to save the single. FOUR! Going down leg and Mathews helps it on its way to the fence. A single off the final delivery.

Boult continues for his sixth over. FOUR! Full and wide and Mathes gets on one knee to drive it past mid off. Four dot deliveries to follow.

Lockie for his second over. Perera on strike. PERERA IS OUT! Slices a full length delivery and is caught just outside the ring.

Kusal Perera c Santner b Ferguson 51 (28)

Dhananjaya de Silva in at No. 7. FOUR to get off the mark. Meets a bouncer on the back foot and pulls it through square leg.

Boult again. Appeals for LBW! Asalanka is struck on the pads and New Zealand goes for a review. There is no bat on that one and Asalanka might be on his way. Three reds on the ball tracker and New Zealand strikes again.

Charith Asalanka lbw b Boult 8 (8)

Angelo Mathews walks in. He sees out the remaining over.

Asalanka starts with a FOUR! Lockie Ferguson starts with a loose delivery down leg and Asalanka flicks it to deep square. A single on the next one. FIFTY FOR PERERA! He gets it with a FOUR through covers. That is the fastest 50 in this World Cup.

Boult to continue. Asalanka clips to mid on and completes a quick single. A bouncer for Perera. FOUR! Another bouncer but this time Perera gets a top edge which goes fine enough to beat the fielder in the deep. FOUR to end! A juicy full toss on offer and Perera sends it down to long on.

Southee to Perera. Punches the first delivery to short cover. SIX! Overpitched from Southee and Perera plays it across the line and lofts it over long on. FOUR more! Perera now through the off side. Again too full and wide of off as well. Punched through point for four more! Perera is on the counter. The fourth boundary of the over. On the pads and Perera clips it through mid wicket.

KUSAL MENDIS IS OUT! Goes for a heave on the on side against Boult, gets a thick edge and Rachin Ravindra at third man does the rest.

Kusal Mendis c Ravindra b Boult 6 (7)

Sadeera Samarawickrama at No. 4. A bouncer to greet him and he fends at it with eyes closed. A single to fine leg. Perera pulls to deep square leg for another run. Another wicket for Boult! It nips back in after pitching at a length and Samarawickrama edges to first slip.

Sadeera Samarawickrama c Mitchell b Boult 1 (2)

Charith Asalanka is the new man in. Gets off the mark with a clip to square leg.

Southee again. He troubles Mendis a bit outside off by keeping it on a probing length. A quick single for Mendis after two dots. FOUR! Perera lifts this over mid-on for a boundary. SIX! Full again and lofted again, this time over long-on for a maximum. Outside edge, flies wide of second slip and another boundary for Perera.

Boult continues. FOUR! Width outside off and Perera slashes this behind point for a boundary. Going wide down leg-side and wide-ball called. Not timed well by Perera as he heaves this through extra-cover for one. Wide outside off now and another extra run in the over. FOUR! Outside edge for Mendis and this races to the third-man boundary.

Tim Southee from the other end draws Nissanka’s outside edge first ball and it goes past the slip fielder and to third man for just a single. This is left outside off-stump by Perera. Full and driven to mid-off by Perera for a dot ball. Dropped! Outside edge and dropped by Latham. That was an easy take and Latham dropped it as the ball kept going away from him. OUT! Latham makes no mistake next ball as Nissanka gets a feather on the outside edge and this goes straight into Latham’s gloves. Top stuff from Southee. Kusal Mendis comes in next. He charges down the wicket and leaves the ball alone outside off.

Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka will open the batting for Sri Lanka. Trent Boult with the new ball and he will hope to put his forgettable PowerPlay returns in the tournament behind him today. Angled into the right-hander Nissanka, who defends on the front foot. On a length just outside off and a slight bottom edge on the cut. Shaping into the right-hander again and blocked solidly. Tucked to square-leg for a fifth dot ball in a row. Driven with an open face and stopped by Phillips at point to keep it down to just a single.

The players are out for the anthems. It is Sri Lanka’s first up, followed up New Zealand.

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham (wk), Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk) (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.

New Zealand wins the toss and elects to bowl. One change for the Kiwis as Lockie Ferguson replaces Ish Sodhi in the playing XI. For Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne comes in for Kasun Rajitha.

The square boundaries are 67 metres and 60 metres and straight is 73 metres long. It is cloudy and humid with an 80 per cent chance of rain. Expect another run-fest at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium today.

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c) (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.

Well, quite a bit. New Zealand will need to win this to cement its place in the semifinals. It could still be eliminated though if Pakistan beats England comprehensively, going past New Zealand’s Net Run Rate. What goes in the Kiwis’ favour is that they have the best NRR among teams vying for the fourth spot, the other teams being Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Overcast skies, but no rain around near the stadium,” informs our reporter Ashwin Achal from the city around an hour ago.

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Will Young.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk) (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Dunith Wellalage.