New Zealand vs Sri Lanka LIVE: ICC T20 World Cup 2026
NZ 156-6Brutal hitting from Mitchell Santner - but Sri Lanka have lost the plot.A full toss from Dilshan Madushanka and Santner nails it high over long on for his third maximum.The partnership is up to 72 and now even 175 isn't beyond the realms for New Zealand.PostAbhishek JhunjhunwalaFormer IPL batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraCole McConchie has such wonderful hands through the ball. His stance is so nice for T20 cricket because it gives him chance to access both sides of the pitch.He has very good game-awareness and he is able to pierce gaps with perfection.PostAbhishek JhunjhunwalaFormer IPL batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraThis is unbelievable isn't it? In the last two overs, New Zealand have managed to get 39 runs. They got seven runs in 24 balls before that.The beauty of T20 cricket is how quickly it changes. It can be like a see-saw.NZ 137-6Back-to-back sixes from Mitchell Santner!Maheesh Theekshana bowled three excellent overs but this one has been a shocker. It starts with a horrible wide, a boundary follows and now these two sixes.Santner launched a slog-sweep into the stands and then hammers a terrible full toss over the leg side, too.Theekshana is fortunate that the later is not an inch or two higher as well, or it might have been a no-ball.21 from the over. New Zealand might have their sights on 160 now. It looked so far off just a couple of overs ago.NZ 123-6New Zealand are really on the charge here!Mitchell Santner times the ball nicely through the covers and having initially done well to get there, Pavan Rathnayake needlessly tries to flick the ball back but gets it all wrong and concedes the boundary.NZ 116-6The Black Caps clearly agree with you, AP.Cole McConchie adds to his two sixes earlier in the over by chopping the ball down past short third for four.Great placement to find the gap and make it 18 from the over. Suddenly, 140 or even 150 is back on the cards.NZ 104-6The 100 comes up in fine style for New Zealand!Full and straight from Dushmantha Chameera... but Cole McConchie plants his front foot and whips the ball high over the leg side for six.Dismissive shot and that is a huge hit.PostAbhishek JhunjhunwalaFormer IPL batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraWe have to give a lot of credit to Sri Lanka's spinners here.They have come out and bowled with purpose. There has been some excellent skill on show, particularly from Maheesh Theekshana with his three wickets that really turned things around.These are favourable conditions so we expect it because they have played enough cricket to know exactly how to bowl on this surface.NZ 98-6It's been a while but we've got a boundary for New Zealand!Charith Asalanka keeps his line outside off but Cole McConchie is across his stumps and sweeps crisply behind square for four.A single makes it eight from the over. Better but New Zealand will want more than that from each of the next four.PostTymal MillsEngland T20 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraI'm surprised that many people take the fruit during an innings. I don't think I ever had food run on to the pitch for me during a game, maybe someone occasionally asked for a banana or something.But it's not often you feel the need for a snack 14 overs in to a must-win T20 World Cup match.NZ 90-6New Zealand have almost ground to a halt here.Another over goes by with only two from it - and it could have been worse with Mitchell Santner extremely close to feathering behind on the cut off Dunith Wellalage.Five overs to go...PostTymal MillsEngland T20 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraWe are definitely seeing signs of this pitch just starting to spin a bit more. That last ball from Dunith Wellalage just started to grab a little bit.Sri Lanka made the call to bowl first after predicting this pitch will get a little trickier, and the new ball is always harder to bat. They will be hoping the dew picks up a little before their innings as well.Let's see if their tactics work...
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