That's it from Match 41 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 where the rain stayed away in Bengaluru and New Zealand came out on top with a resounding win over Sri Lanka and almost qualify for the semis. Do join us tomorrow for SouthAfrica vs Afghanistan from Ahmedabad which will be another important game. Stick around to our space for all other cricketing actions across the globe and formats.
This is AyanChatterjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentator AkshayBhide alongside scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer and Raju Khariya. Stay safe, happy, and cool. Goodnight and CHEERS!
Rachin Ravindra: "It is really surreal playing in Bengaluru in front of the extended family. The crowd was chanting my name when I was batting and I will never take it for granted. To be compared with Sachin was something I never dreamt of.
(On taking that Ajaz Patelโs 10-wicket haul catch) It was the most nervy moment of my career. I was lucky to catch that.
The wickets are really good and the outfield is very fast. I keep speaking with Devon and Kane and pick up their minds as they have played in the IPL. We are not yet in the semi-finals but we will be looking forward to it.
I have idolized so many players playing in this World Cup. Kohli, Root, Steve and I was like, wow, Iโm playing with those guys. Really, a special feeling, and thank you to the Chinnaswamy crowd for all the support throughout these games."
Kane Williamson (New Zealand Captain):"Yes, very happy. Really got the win. Early wickets. The spin was a factor and the guys were brilliant in the middle overs and restricted them.
We thought there would be weather. We had to play what is in front of us. We did what we had to and restricted a dangerous Sri Lankan side to a low total.
The pacers were good and the spinners were outstanding and it was a collective effort from the boys.
Yes, a couple of teams can get to same points. So, we will relax and maybe a bit of training and then see where we are at. Yes, if we go to the semis, it will be against India as you said. But it depends.
We will be up for it and if we are fortunate we will play the home side. They are a quality side and let's see what we can do if we are fortunate to play them in the semis."
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka Captain): "I thought in the first 10 overs, we lost wickets. Due to that, we struggled to get going. If we had partnerships at the top of the order, we would have got to 300.
Dilshan Madushanka bowled really well. But since they were chasing a low total, it became difficult for us to build pressure and pick wickets.
I got the captaincy after the first 2 games. I enjoyed the role. I'm disappointed with my own performance but I enjoyed the captaincy role.
Very happy to see a couple of players putting their hands up and surely, they will be the future of Sri Lanka cricket."
Trent Boult (Player of the Match): "Nice to get some success at the top with the new ball. The pleasure was to finish on the winning side. We did well with the ball before the boys finished it off quickly.
I think it's always a challenging format and challenging to bowl in this part of the world. I tried to use my experience and tried to hit the right areas consistently.
You come across different conditions when you come to this part of the world. You can't give any excuse. You have to adapt to the conditions.
Yeah. Everyone wants a piece of the host nation. They are playing good cricket and it will be an interesting battle."
Player of the Match: Trent Boult
With this big win, Pakistan have an impossible task. If they bat first and post 300 on the board, they will have to knock over England on 13 to qualify for the semi-finals.
If they are batting second, they will have to chase the total inside 2.3 overs.
7:48 PM IST and Local Time: A clinical performance from New Zealand as they outplay the Sri Lankans here in Bengaluru by 5 wickets with 27.4 overs left in the match. They get to 10 points and boost their net run rate and are almost through to the semi-finals. They have outplayed the Lankans in all three departments of the game and win this easily.
Chasing a paltry 172 for the win, New Zealand got off to a terrific start courtesy of their openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. The duo shared a 86-runstand for the first wicket and that laid the platform. Conway scored 45 off 42 balls while Ravindra scored 42 off 34 balls. Skipper Kane Williamson fell for 14 off 15 balls. Daryl Mitchell scored an enterprising 43 off 31 balls before getting dismissed towards the end. Glenn Phillips was unbeaten on 17* off 10 balls as New Zealand got to the target in 23.2 overs. 2 extras given by the fielding side.
It was a small total to defend for Sri Lanka and they did manage to get 5 wickets but it was too late in the piece. Angelo Mathews got a couple of wickets while Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmanta Chameera got a wicket apiece. Plus, there was a run out involved as well.
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka put into bat first by New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals and lost the plot in the powerplay. Nissanka, Mendis, and Sadeera Samarawickrama fell cheaply. Kusal Perera scored a brilliant 51 off 28balls after he was dropped on 0 but he got no support from the other end. They were 5 down after 10 overs, Angelo Mathews scored 16 while Dhananjaya de Silva scored 19. Maheesh Theekshana scored a valiant 38* off 91 balls while Dilshan Madushanka scored 19 off 48 balls. The duo took Sri Lanka from 128/9 to 171 all out but it was never going to be enough as they were bowled out in 46.4 overs. 4 extras given by the fielding side.
From New Zealand's bowling point of view, Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/37 in 10 overs. A couple of wickets apiece for LockieFerguson, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra while Tim Southee picked up a wicket early on. Glenn Phillips was used for just a single over. All in all, a terrific bowling effort from New Zealand to set up the game and the batters won the game in the end.
So, a win by 5 wickets for New Zealand with 160 balls to spare as the Kiwis get to 10 points and are almost through to the finals. Stay tuned for the presentations.
23.2 D Madushanka to G Phillips
4 FOUR!!! Pulled away powerfully and that's a comprehensive way to finish this game. Madushanka bangs it short on the body, Phillips picks the length early and quickly swivels to pull it hard behind square in the leg side for a cracking boundary. The deep square leg fielder has no chance of stopping this one as the ball races away to the fence like a tracer bullet. With this, New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets.
23.1 D Madushanka to G Phillips
4 FOUR!!!! Drilled down the ground for a boundary. Madushanka bowls a half-volley on the stumps, Phillips stands still and drives it straight down the ground. Mid on and mid off are up inside the circle and it runs away for four in a flash.
OVER 23
New Zealand
164/5
Tom Latham
2(2)
Glenn Phillips
9(8)
Angelo Mathews
2-29(4.0)
22.6 A Mathews to T Latham
2 Good length delivery outside off, Latham takes a stride forward and punches it crisply past covers to open his account with a couple of runs.
22.5 A Mathews to T Latham
0 Fuller delivery on the pads, Latham looks to flick it but misses and wears it on the outside half of the front pad. Mathews and Mendis go up but Joel Wilson turns down the appeal. It looked like it pitched outside leg to the naked eye. Mendis thinks otherwise and sends it upstairs quickly. The replays are in and it has clearly missed the bat. Onto ball tracking now and it has pitched outside leg. The original decision is upheld and Sri Lanka lose a review.