Sri Lanka bowl first against New Zealand in Super 8 match
February 25, 2026 06:43 pm
Under lights with a big crowd building up for Sri Lanka’s must-win encounter, Dasun Shanaka opted to put New Zealand in at the Premadasa.
Sri Lanka made one change, with Kamil Mishara replaced by Charith Asalanka. After their loss to England in the opening match, Sri Lanka must now win both Super Eight games to join England in the semi-finals.
It is New Zealand’s first game in Sri Lanka after their match against Pakistan was washed out. It takes place on a dry pitch, which should carry some interest for seam bowlers. New Zealand, however, made one change the other way, with seam-bowling allrounder James Neesham sitting out for offspinner and batter Cole McConchie.
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Pavan Rathnayake, 5 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Dushan Hemantha, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
New Zealand: 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Cole McConchie, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Lockie Ferguson
Source: ESPN
--Agencies
