In a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, New Zealand overcame a minor scare to clinch a convincing five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with a remarkable 160 balls to spare. This crucial win all but secures their place in the semifinals of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023.
The Kiwis, aware of the importance of boosting their Net Run Rate, bundled out Sri Lanka for a modest 171. The foundation for their triumph was laid by an exceptional bowling performance, especially from the quicks, who ran riot in Bengaluru. Kusal Perera emerged as the lone warrior for Sri Lanka in the Powerplay, but Lockie Ferguson's crucial wicket left them struggling at 70/5.
New Zealand's bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner, continued to apply pressure, ultimately restricting Sri Lanka to 171. The Black Caps' victory was further propelled by an outstanding 86-run opening stand between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.
Chasing a target of 172, New Zealand displayed dominance in the Powerplay, with Conway and Ravindra setting a solid foundation. Despite losing both openers in quick succession, Daryl Mitchell's explosive 43 and Glenn Phillips' finishing touches secured the win for New Zealand.
The Kiwis' comprehensive victory has positioned them in a favorable spot in the points table, leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan with nearly impossible targets to overcome their superior Net Run Rate. Pakistan must beat England either by 287 runs while batting first or with about 284 balls to spare, while Afghanistan faces an even more daunting task of defeating second-placed South Africa by 438 runs.
Tim Southee's early breakthroughs and Trent Boult's impactful spells were instrumental in limiting Sri Lanka, despite Perera's aggressive innings. The Sri Lankan innings reached a respectable total, thanks to a resilient tenth-wicket partnership between Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka, who added valuable runs in the late overs.
In the end, New Zealand's dominant performance with both bat and ball secured their place in the top four of the points table. Only a monumental victory for either Pakistan or Afghanistan in their final matches could potentially displace the Kiwis from the semifinals.
This thrilling contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium showcased New Zealand's resilience and determination, proving their mettle as strong contenders for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 title.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 171 all out in 46.4 overs (Kusal Perera 51, Maheesh Theekshana 38 not out; Trent Boult 3-37, Lokie Ferguson 2-35, Mitchell Santner 2-22, Rachin Ravindra 2-21)
New Zealand 172/5 in 23.2 overs (Devon Conway 45, Rachin Ravindra 42, Daryl Mitchell 43; Angelo Mathews 2-29) by five wickets.
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