New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner commended his team’s recovery and disciplined bowling in a 61-run victory over Sri Lanka, keeping their Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive. Despite facing pressure from the visitors’ bowlers at the R Premadasa Stadium, Santner and Cole McConchie’s 84-run partnership helped New Zealand reach 168/7 after a shaky start at 84/6.
Reflecting on the match, Santner expressed satisfaction with their score, considering the challenging conditions with spin. He highlighted the importance of staying at the crease longer, aiming for a total around 140 before eventually reaching 160. The spinners, led by Rachin Ravindra’s impressive 4-27, effectively restricted Sri Lanka to 107/8, securing a convincing win.
Santner praised McConchie’s composure and adaptability to the spinning conditions, emphasizing the significance of controlling lengths on the challenging pitch. Looking ahead, he acknowledged the upcoming challenge of facing England and the need for a quick turnaround to maintain their performance level.
Ravindra, named Player of the Match, credited the team’s collective effort for the comprehensive victory, highlighting the contributions from all team members across different roles. He emphasized the strategic importance of bowling slower on the pitch and how the team’s discussions on pace variations influenced their game plan.
