Seamer Trent Boult and spinner Mitchell Santner landed well timed blows as New Zealand restricted Sri Lanka to 171 of their ICC World Cup encounter on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
A giant win for New Zealand will put them in a robust place to bag the final semi-final spot and be a part of India, South Africa and Australia, whereas Sri Lanka want a victory to spice up their possibilities of a top-eight end for 2025 Champions Trophy qualification.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s resolution to bowl after profitable the toss paid off early as pacemen Boult (3-37) and Tim Southee (1-52) ripped by Sri Lanka’s top-order to go away them in bother at 32-3 inside 5 overs. Kusal Perera, who was dropped on zero by Tom Latham within the second over, punished New Zealand with a 22-ball fifty however misplaced one other associate as Boult trapped Charith Asalanka lbw to show the screws on the 1996 champions.
A fit-again Lockie Ferguson (2-35) struck in his second over to dismiss the aggressive Perera for 51 as Sri Lanka crumbled to 70-5 earlier than folding within the forty seventh over for a modest complete after Santner (2-22) and Rachin Ravindra (2-21) joined the celebration.
