NZ secures a resounding 5-wicket victory against SL, moving closer to the semi-finals clash with India.
Delhi: In pursuit of 172 runs, New Zealand’s opening duo, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, provided an impressive start. Despite losing five wickets quickly, the Black Caps managed to overpower Sri Lanka, securing a 5-wicket victory with 160 balls remaining in the ongoing ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 in Bengaluru by the 23.2nd over.
New Zealand openers Devon Conway (45) and Rachin Ravindra (42) gave the perfect start the Black Caps needed. After the openers were out, Daryl Mitchell (43) gave the perfect throttle New Zealand needed, while Glenn Phillips ensured New Zealand’s victory in just 23.2 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews took 2 wickets, while Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana picked one wickets each.
The Sri Lankan team faced an all-out situation, managing to reach a total of 171 runs as their lower-order batsmen resiliently contributed to a competitive score. Unfortunately, partnerships were elusive for Sri Lanka, and their wickets continued to fall consistently. Mitchell Santner’s spin prowess secured two crucial wickets, complemented by Lockie Ferguson’s pace that disrupted the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
The initial 10 overs proved challenging for Sri Lanka, witnessing the departure of half their batting order, with Trent Boult claiming three wickets, while Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson each took one. Despite the team’s struggle, Kusal Perera’s remarkable performance stood out as he smashed the fastest half-century of the ICC World Cup 2023 in just 21 balls.
