New Zealand’s 61-run victory over Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has left Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging by a thread.
The Black Caps outplayed hosts Sri Lanka in a dominant performance, eliminating them from the tournament while significantly improving their own position in the standings.
Batting first after being put in, the Mitchell Santner-led side posted 168 for seven in 20 overs, with the skipper contributing a determined 47 to anchor the innings.
Chasing 168, the home side struggled throughout their innings and could only reach 107 for eight in 20 overs, falling well short of the target.
Rachin Ravindra was named player of the match for his all-round performance, scoring 32 runs from 22 balls, including one six and three fours, and registering career-best bowling figures.
The comprehensive win lifted New Zealand to second place on the points table with a Net Run Rate of 3.050, while the Men in Green remain behind with an NRR of minus 0.464.
The Salman Ali Agha-led side must now defeat Sri Lanka by at least 70 runs and also depend on the result of the England versus New Zealand fixture scheduled on Friday.
According to statistician Mazher Arshad, a 20-run England win would reduce Pakistan’s required margin to 50 runs, while a washout would confirm New Zealand’s qualification.
New Zealand’s big win has made the situation difficult for Pakistan but Pakistan still have a chance. They need NZ to lose big against England and then need to win big against Sri Lanka.
If NZ lose to Eng by 20 runs, Pakistan will need to beat SL by approximately 50 runs.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 25, 2026
