ICC World Cup 2023: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka, Pakistan closer to World Cup exit

On Thursday, New Zealand easily won by five wickets against Sri Lanka in the 41st match of the ongoing World Cup 2023. This victory also puts Pakistan on the verge of being eliminated from the tournament.

The Kiwis dominated the Islanders, easily reaching the 172-run goal in only 23.2 overs at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, putting them one step closer to the event’s semi-final.

Devon Conway had a strong start, hitting 45 runs off 42 balls before getting out to Dushmantha Chameera.

Rachin Ravindra missed reaching fifty runs, getting out to Maheesh Theekshana after scoring 42 runs.

Kane Williamson was bowled out for 14 runs while attempting to hit the ball towards point Angelo Mathews, but an inside edge led to his dismissal. Mark Chapman was run out, scoring only seven runs, due to a misunderstanding with Daryl Mitchell.

Mitchell made 43 runs off 31 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Unfortunately, he lost his wicket while attempting a big shot when New Zealand only needed 10 more runs to win the match.

Yet, Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham guided their team to a crucial victory by successfully pursuing the target of 172 runs in just 23.2 overs.

With their recent victory, New Zealand is now in a strong position to make it to the World Cup semi-finals. Their net run rate (NRR) has risen to 0.743, enhancing their chances.

Sri Lanka struggled in the early part of their innings, losing their top three players quickly and reaching 32-3 after 4.4 overs. Despite the challenging situation, Kusal Perera played aggressively, scoring 51 runs off 28 balls with nine fours and two sixes.

However, lack of support from other players led to Perera’s wicket falling at 70-5 in 9.3 overs.

Though Angelo Mathews (16) and Dhanajaya de Silva (19) provided some stability, their efforts weren’t enough to set a competitive total. With continuous wickets falling, Sri Lanka was at 128-9 in 32.1 overs.

The tailenders, Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madhushanka, managed to build a resilient 43-run partnership, helping Sri Lanka reach a total of 171 runs before being all-out.

New Zealand’s bowlers, including Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra, displayed an all-round performance.

Boult took three wickets, while Ferguson, Santner, and Ravindra each bagged two, and Tim Southee secured one wicket.