The NZ vs SL showdown in Match 46 of the Super Eights at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be an intense showdown as New Zealand face Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium on February 25.
The outcome of this match will determine who secures the last remaining semi final spot in group A; it may also determine the standings on the Super 8 Table.
Match Details for NZ v SL
Match – NZ vs SL – 46th Match in the Super 8s
Date/Time (IST) – Wednesday 25th February, 7PM
Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
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NZ v SL Team form and last match results
New Zealand Preview
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the first match of the NZ cricket international program is against Pakistan in Colombo. In that match, NZ lost all of its matches because of rain. NZ was awarded 1 point due to no results.
Prior to this, the Black Caps performed impressively in the group stage with three victories out of four matches, displaying well-rounded performances with both bat and ball. They require a good show against Sri Lanka to remain in the running for a spot in the final.
Sri Lanka Preview
The Sri Lanka national cricket team are under pressure following a thrashing defeat of 51 runs at the hands of England in their first Super Eight match.
The Sri Lanka batting lineup performed poorly in the spin-friendly environment, and their net run rate has been affected. Playing at home, the Sri Lanka team would be eager to make a comeback in this crucial NZ vs SL match.
R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report
The Colombo surface has already witnessed five matches in the tournament:
- Teams batting first won 4 times
- Teams chasing won only once
Interestingly, the teams have still opted to chase, but the statistics show that batting first might have a slight edge. The surface is known to favor spinners, particularly in the latter stages of the match. The pace will be slower, there will be grip for spinners, and a total of 160-170 runs will be considered competitive.
NZ vs SL Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Matches Played: 28
New Zealand Wins: 16
Sri Lanka Wins: 9
No Result/Tied: 3
First Meeting: December 2, 2006
Last Meeting: January 2, 2025
New Zealand hold a clear advantage historically, but Sri Lanka’s home conditions could narrow the gap.
NZ vs SL Predicted Playing XIs
New Zealand Probable XI
Tim Seifert (wk)
Finn Allen
Rachin Ravindra
Glenn Phillips
Mark Chapman
Daryl Mitchell
Mitchell Santner (c)
James Neesham
Matt Henry
Ish Sodhi
Lockie Ferguson
Sri Lanka Probable XI
Pathum Nissanka
Kamil Mishara
Kusal Mendis (wk)
Pavan Rathnayake
Kamindu Mendis
Dasun Shanaka (c)
Dunith Wellalage
Dushan Hemantha
Dushmantha Chameera
Maheesh Theekshana
Dilshan Madushanka
NZ vs SL Key Players to Watch
Probable Best Batter: Pathum Nissanka
Pathum Nissanka has been the most impressive player for Sri Lanka in the tournament so far.
Runs: 208 in 5 matches
Average: 52.00
Strike Rate: 154.07
1 Century & 1 Fifty
In a do-or-die match, Sri Lanka will look to Nissanka to give them a good start.
Probable Best Bowler: Mitchell Santner
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has had a very quiet tournament so far, taking just one wicket in four matches.
However, with the Colombo pitch expected to favor spinners, Santner may hold the key to controlling the middle overs.
NZ vs SL Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
Taking into consideration:
The well-rounded team of New Zealand
The recent batting woes of Sri Lanka
The spin-friendly nature of Colombo’s pitches
The head-to-head advantage
New Zealand seem marginally better-prepared on paper. But if their top order clicks and their spinners are dominant at home, a surprise result is always possible.
Prediction:
New Zealand have a slight advantage in the NZ vs SL match, but it is going to be a closely contested match that may go down to the wire.
ALSO READ: ENG vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: Harry Brook’s Century Led England To Semi-Finals
