ODI World Cup 2023, NZ vs SL, Highlights: New Zealand thump Sri Lanka to put one foot in semis🏏🏆

The Kiwis first skittled out the Lankans for 171 in 46.4 overs and then rode on the strong showing of their openers Devon Conway (45), Rachin Ravindra (42) and Daryl Mitchell (43) to cross the finish line in 23.2 overs.

New Zealand ended their four-match losing run in the ODI World Cup 2023 with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday to take a big step towards the semi-finals.

The Kiwis first skittled out the Lankans for 171 in 46.4 overs and then rode on the strong showing of their openers Devon Conway (45), Rachin Ravindra (42) and Daryl Mitchell (43) to cross the finish line in 23.2 overs.

With 10 points from nine matches, New Zealand are now fourth in the standings and are in pole position to bag the last remaining last four spot to join India, South Africa and Australia.

Fifth-placed Pakistan now need to beat England by a huge margin to overtake New Zealand on net run rate.

After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and electing to bowl, seamer Trent Boult utilised the shining new ball and then off-spinner Mitchell Santner joined the wicket-taking hunt as Sri Lanka were skittled out for 171 all out despite an early blitz by Kusal Perera (51) and a lower order resistance by Maheesh Theekshana (38 not out).

Boult (3-37) and Tim Southee (1-52) made early inroads into the Sri Lanka top order to leave them tottering at at 32-3 inside five overs.

Perera was dropped on zero by Tom Latham in the second over and he blasted a 22-ball half century but kept losing his partners at the other end. Lockie Ferguson (2-35) struck a massive blow though the Lankans in his second over when he dismissed Perera.

Sri Lanka slumped to 70-5 and never recovered, eventually folding for a modest total after Mitchell Santner (2-22) and Ravindra (2-21) also claimed wickets at crucial moments.

Santner removed the veteran Angelo Mathews (16) and Dhananjaya de Silva (19) but Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka (19) put on 43 runs for a 10th-wicket stand to frustrate the Lankans. But 171 was never going to be enough on a true batting surface with an ordinary bowling attack.