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New Zealand ready for Sri Lanka’s spin challenge, says Santner

Published

18 seconds ago

February 25, 2026

COLOMBO: New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said on Tuesday adapting to slow-turning pitches in Colombo would be key for their crucial T20 World Cup clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka.The Black Caps need a win in their second Super Eights match in Group 2 on Wednesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium after their first match against Pakistan was washed out at the same venue.

Santner’s team have been in the Sri Lankan capital for a week after finishing their group stage in India.

“I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries – we played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” Santner told reporters.

“But I think you pick a squad of 15, knowing that you could potentially be in both countries on slightly slower wickets, on some flat ones as well.”

Santner, a left-arm spinner, said, “So I think we have the spin kind of options covered as well, which is nice, but it’s just going out there and adjusting as fast as you can.”

Sri Lanka come into the contest in a must-win situation after they suffered a huge 51-run loss to England in their Super Eights opener in Pallekele.

But Santner said Sri Lanka are always a tough nut to crack in their own backyard.

“Sri Lanka are a very strong side at home and they dominate conditions here,” said Santner.

“They are missing a couple of players but there’s quality in that line-up. We are lucky that we have played them a lot in recent years and there are no secrets.”

New Zealand have one point from the rained-off match, while Sri Lanka stay bottom among four teams in the Super Eights group.

A defeat for New Zealand will dent their chances of making the semi-finals.

“Any game in the Super Eight is sort of knock out,” said Santner. “We know that it is the same for Sri Lanka. We want to put out a good show tomorrow and walk out with a win.”

‘SL Can Rescue Campaign’

Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage said that the co-hosts can win both their remaining Super Eight matches to rescue their faltering T20 World Cup campaign.

“We have got to now win both these games,” left-arm spinner Wellalage told reporters.

“We know how important a home World Cup is. The fans have turned up in numbers and we have always believed that we can make it to the semi-finals.

“The last two games haven’t gone to our plan but we are looking forward to the must-win clash tomorrow.”

The 23-year-old Wellalage has stood up for Sri Lanka in the absence of senior bowlers Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Eshan Malinga because of injury.

Wellalage bowled in the power play against England and finished with three wickets including captain Harry Brook.

“It was a challenge bowling during the power plays and the key was for me to deny the batsmen boundaries,” he said.

“I had to be clever with my lengths and when I did that the batters had to take a few chances. I relished the new challenge.”

Sri Lanka have struggled in global tournaments since winning the T20 World Cup in 2014.

They hosted New Zealand in late 2024 winning Test and ODI series and drawing a T20 series 1-1.“We have played New Zealand a lot in recent years and we know that we can beat them in these conditions,” Wellalage said. “We are still in with a chance to make it to the semis and winning tomorrow will be important.”

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2026

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‘Our fate is not in our hands’: Shaheen on T20 World Cup semi-final prospects following defeat by England – Sport

Published

10 hours ago

February 25, 2026

hussainbinnoman3@gmail.com

After England beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash by two wickets on Tuesday, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that his side’s fate was not in its hands anymore.

Pakistan have only one point from two Super Eight matches so now must win their final game and rely on other results going their way to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals.

“We know our fate is not in our hands,” he admitted, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.”

“It’s not ideal, but it’s like this,” Shaheen said during a press conference after the match.

He also hailed Harry Brook’s century in the match against England as a “world-class knock”.

Brook reached his maiden T20 International hundred off 50 balls, with four sixes and 10 fours, as England went past their 165-run target with five balls to spare to win by two wickets.

Afridi jolted the England top order with a burst of three wickets before Brook played the ultimate captain’s innings to steer his side home.

“In my opinion this will be the best innings of his life,” Afridi told reporters. “It wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on but he took the game away from us.”

Promoted to number three after a morning conversation with England coach Brendon McCullum, Brook walked in after Afridi dismissed Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings.

Afridi then removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell to leave England wobbling at 35-3 in the power play.

Brook stood firm, adding 45 for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran and 52 with Will Jacks for the sixth.

His century was the second fastest in T20 World Cup history, and the first ever by a team’s captain.

Only West Indies great Chris Gayle, against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup, reached three figures quicker. He took just 47 balls.

Afridi was clobbered for a six and a four as Brook raced through the “nervous nineties” in two balls, going from 90 to 100 before raising his bat.

The tall paceman bowled Brook with a yorker next ball, but did not celebrate wildly – instead he immediately went to congratulate the England captain in a superb show of cricket sportmanship.

“Brook played proper cricketing shots and he desreved a handshake, so I went to him and shook his hand in appreciation,” said Afridi.

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‘Our fate is not in our hands,’ says Shaheen Shah Afridi after Pakistan’s loss to England – Sport

Published

10 hours ago

February 25, 2026

hussainbinnoman3@gmail.com

After England beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash by two wickets on Tuesday, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that his side’s fate was not in its hands.

Pakistan have only one point from two Super Eight matches so now must win their final game and rely on other results going their way to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals.

“We know our fate is not in our hands,” he admitted, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.