In a must-win game, at 13 overs, New Zealand were staring at a modest total and a possible meltdown. ESPN’s win predictor gave Sri Lanka a 76.2% chance. The Kiwis were 84/6, stuck in the middle overs, the spinners choking the life out of them. Colombo was loud, confident, expectant to see their team go ahead in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash.
Seven overs later, the game had flipped. The win predictor dipped to 47.2%. New Zealand had stormed to 168/7 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka now need 169 at 8.45 per over. As Ian Smith put it on air, it was “a bit of a comeback from the death.“
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From 84/6 to 168/7 – Santner and McConchie flip the script
The innings began briskly. New Zealand were 44/2 in the powerplay at 7.33 RPO. But once the field spread, the squeeze came hard. Between overs 7 and 15, they crawled to 46/4 at 5.11 RPO. Maheesh Theekshana led the charge, finishing with 3/30 in 4 overs. Dushmantha Chameera chipped in with 3/38.
The collapse was horrifying for the Kiwis. From 84/3 to 84/6 in five balls. Wellalage and Theekshana ran riot. At that point, even 140 looked ambitious. Enter Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie. The duo added 84 runs in 47 balls, which is now the highest 7th-wicket (or lower) partnership in T20 World Cup history.
Highest 7th wicket partnerships in T20 World Cup
| Partnership | Players | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Cole McConchie-Mitchell Santner | SL | 2026 |
| 74 | Hussey-Smith | BAN | 2010 |
| 71 | Naib-Nabi | PAK | 2021 |
| 70 | Frylinck-Smit | SL | 2022 |
| 68 | Sangakarra-Mathews | PAK | 2009 |
Santner’s 47 off 26 was clean and the fact that he was averaging almost 30 against the Lankans was there to be seen. McConchie, playing his first match of this World Cup, recovered from 2 off 10 to contribute smartly under pressure. The last four overs alone yielded 70 runs — 78/1 at 15.6 RPO. Six sixes and five fours in that burst.
| Phase | Score | Run Rate | Boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overs 1-6 | 44/2 | 7.33 | 5×4, 1×6 |
| Overs 7-15 | 46/4 | 5.11 | 3×4, 1×6 |
| Overs 16-20 | 78/1 | 15.6 | 5×4, 6×6 |
Sri Lanka’s spinners had controlled the middle (4/95 in 13 overs at 7.30 ER), while pace went for 3/72 at 10.28. But at the death, control vanished. In reply, Sri Lanka’s chances took a further dent as they lost Pathum Nissanka on the first ball of the run-chase. Matt Henry bowled a peach of a delivery to rattle in-form Nissanka. Meanwhile, the Kiwi pacer struck again as he sent back Charith Asalanka, taking a double wicket-haul inside the first three overs.
