New Zealand posted 168/7 in their 20 overs after Sri Lanka opted to bowl first. The innings featured steady partnerships rather than one dominant knock, allowing the Kiwis to maintain momentum through most phases while Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent a massive total.
Despite a controlled middle phase from Sri Lanka, New Zealand managed a useful late push to finish at a strong run rate of 8.4 per over, pushing the target close to the 170 mark — often considered a challenging chase in T20 World Cup conditions.
Sri Lanka now require 169 runs to win, needing to score at approximately 8.45 runs per over from the start. With wickets in hand and a solid batting lineup, the chase remains finely balanced heading into the second innings.