NZ vs SL, World Cup 2023: New Zealand hammer Sri Lanka to edge ever closer to semi-finals
New Zealand snapped a 4-match losing streak by hammering Sri Lanka by 5 wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday, November 9 to put themselves.
In a position of strength in the race to the 2023 World Cup semi-finals. New Zealand clinched their 5th win of the tournament, tasting success after a 21-day interval.
As the rain stayed away after threatening to play spoilsport, New Zealand dominated with bat and ball, giving themselves a great chance to make the semi-finals of the ODI showpiece event for the fourth successive time.
New Zealand rode on an all-round bowling show after winning the toss and opting to bowl in Bengaluru. Trent Boult found his mojo back, picking up 3 wickets while the likes of Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, and Rachin Ravindra picked up 2 wickets each to bowl Sri Lanka out for 171. There was a nagging 43-run 10-wicket partnership that frustrated New Zealand, thanks to Maheesh Theekshana who helped the 1996 champions give something for their bowlers to work with.
However, New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Ravindra gave the team a flying start, decimating any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback with the ball. The two batters added 86 runs in just 12.2 overs to put the chase to rest. Both players missed out on their fifties, but the start gave the BlackCaps the cushion to not worry about the asking rate and focus on getting past the finish line.
Daryl Mitchell gave the much-needed impetus after the fall of the openers as he hit a 31-ball 43, hitting 2 sixes and 5 boundaries, as New Zealand were in a hurry to get the chase done as early as possible. Kane Williamson struggled for his 14 while Mark Chapman was run-out in a mix-up with Mitchell.
New Zealand got the chase down in 23.2 overs, further boosting their Net Run Rate and sitting pretty at the 4th spot in the World Cup points table.
ADVANTAGE NZ IN SEMIS RACE
When New Zealand were caught off guard by Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant century in a rain-curtailed game against Pakistan 5 days ago, it looked like the wheels were coming off for the former finalists. However, the BlackCaps walked the talk, staying in the present and hammering Sri Lanka, successfully chasing down a below-par target of 172 in xx.x ov.
India, South Africa, and Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals and New Zealand are all but the fourth team in the knockout stage, thanks to their huge margin of victory and the pace at which they chased down 172 against Sri Lanka. The BlackCaps took their points tale
New Zealand took their tally to 10 points at the end of their league stage and they have a positive Net Run Rate.
Pakistan and Afghanistan, who are tied at 8 points after 8 games each, are in the race to the semi-finals but their chances look bleak after New Zealand’s dominant win. Pakistan will face England in their last league game on Saturday while Afghanistan take on South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday, November 10.