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New Zealand have crushed the hopes of Pakistan and Afghanistan and have more or less assured of a semi final clash against India at the Wankhede Stadium on 15th November. Sri Lanka never looked in the game and the Kiwis cashed on. Just a few more matches left in the group stage before the big semi finals and the finals. It will be South Africa who wil square off against Afghanistan in tomorrow's clash. For now, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Pradeep.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand captain): Really good performance. Early wickets and then spin became very difficult to face. We expected the first one to be a bit like that. We thought there would be weather around but it didn't play a part. Hard to predict those things. Pitch became very slow as the game progressed. Overall, the guys showed intent and very happy with the performance. Perera can take the game away from it was great to take those early wickets. Managed to bring our 5th and 6th spinner in the equation is always good. We have a couple more days left, not sure what we would be doing. Hopefully things will go our way and it will be amazing to play India in the semi-final.
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka captain): First 10 overs we lost wickets, there was struggle in middle overs, bit of a partnership towards the end and we thought 300 on this pitch would've been really good. Dilshan Madushanka bowled very well, but we had less total to defend, it was tough to get wickets and he bowled well. I got the captaincy after two games, I quite enjoyed, it was disappointing from my side, but I enjoyed my captaincy. Very happy to see few players putting their hands up to perform well, they are the one's to watch out for in the future.
Trent Boult is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: Nice to get a bit of a success at the top, was a big game for us, must win game and pleasure to get the result we wanted, good night all around. Personally? It was always a challenging format, challenging to bowl in this part of the world, have used my experience in some of the games and nice to be on the right side of the win. You come across different conditions, no excuse, conditions change throughout, just pleasing to get the result we wanted. Everyone wants a piece of the host nation, they're playing phenomenal cricket, time will tell what happens, but I'm sure it'll be an exciting game.
New Zealand won by 5 wickets (with 26.4 overs to spare)
It was a thoroughly dominating performance from New Zealand, as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 7 wickets to more or less secure a place in the semi-final. While Pakistan and Afghanistan still have a mathematical chance realistically, it is as good as impossible. Unless anything miraculous happens, New Zealand are set to play their semi-final clash against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15. New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra came out with a clear mindset and started hitting boundaries regularly. Both batters looked in ominous touch. While Conway dealt in fours, Ravindra cleared the fence thrice during his blistering knock.
The Sri Lankan new ball bowlers Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana couldn't quite get the wickets Sri Lanka was after and it all went pear-shaped from them. Boundaries started to flow from the blade of both Conway and Ravindra as they raced off to 85 in just 12 overs. Dushmantha Chameera troubled Conway with a couple of deliveries that thudded onto his gloves and he never looked comfortable. A frustrated Conway came down the track and ended up hacking one straight to the midwicket fielder.
Ravindra tried to continue the onslaught but ended up sweeping one flat off Theekshana straight to the mid-on fielder. Despite the fall of a couple of wickets, Daryl Mitchell began in a positive manner, reverse sweeping his first delivery for a boundary. He continued to charge the Sri Lankan bowlers and was joined in by Kane Williamson. Just when the New Zealand skipper started finding the boundaries, a drag onto the stumps ended his innings. Mark Chapman also departed early as he was involved in a huge mix up with Mitchell. Glenn Phillips then came out and smacked three boundaries to take New Zealand home. They win by 5 wickets and have realistically secured their place in the semi final.
Yes he does, another dismissive pull which races away to the fence and New Zealand have given themseleves the best chance to go through to the semi final. They throughly outplayed Sri Lanka in all three departments of the game. Having being reduced to 78/5 at the end of the powerplay, there was no way back for Sri Lanka. It was the last wicket partnership of 43 runs between Theekshana and Madushanka which propelled the Lankans to 170. It was an easy chase for New Zealand. They came out all guns blazing and wanted to finish it off early and they have chased it down with 26.4 overs to spare.
Just one hit away now from sealing this. Phillips struck that hard down the ground. Will he finish it off with a boundary?
23.2 Dilshan Madushanka to Glenn Phillips, FOUR MORE! GAME, SET AND MATCH! New Zealand, all but certain have sealed their spot in the semi-finals, but will have to wait for that Pakistan vs England result though, but highly unlikely Pakistan are making it into the next stage after this thumping win from New Zealand. Short into the batter, Phillips swivels and pumped it past backward square-leg for a boundary to seal the deal.
23.1 Dilshan Madushanka to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! SHOT! Alright, New Zealand are hit away now to seal the game. Pitched up full on the off-stump, Phillips smacked it straight down the ground, races away and finds the ropes.
A firm punch from Tom Latham to get his innings underway. Mathews getting the wicket of Daryl Mitchell in that over as he tried to finish it off early and ended up slicing it straight to the deep point fielder.
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K Williamson
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M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
