Watch: Charith Asalanka’s superb diving catch dismisses Mitchell Santner in NZ vs SL T20 World Cup 2026

The batting innings of the New Zealand side against Sri Lanka in the Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo could have been divided into three segments. The Kiwis started well in the first eight overs before being put egg on the face regarding their batting against the spinners and ended up making a strong comeback in the death overs.

Sri Lanka’s shoulders were down before the last ball of the innings, on which Charith Asalanka grabbed a stunning air-borne catch to bring some momentum and smile in their faces, and dismissed Mitchell Santner to keep the visitors under the 170-run mark in the innings, which could make a difference in the outcome of the contest potentially.

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On the last delivery of the innings, Santner got the delivery full outside the off stump and had it right in the zone for the drive as he hit it close to extra cover. He went hard and didn’t bother to keep it down, as Asalanka dived to his right and took it with both hands. The ball was traveling hard, and the fielder did well to cling on.

Charith Asalanka’s catch to dismiss Mitchell Santner goes viral in T20 WC 2026

The 84-run partnership between Cole McConkie and Santner is now the highest for the seventh wicket or lower in the T20 WCs, which went past 74 runs added by Michael Hussey and Steve Smith in 2010 against Bangladesh in Barbados. The slower the ball had been from the spinner, the more impact it made.

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New Zealand posted 44 runs for the loss of two wickets in the powerplay before losing four wickets for 46 runs in the middle overs at a run rate of 5.11. Meanwhile, in the death overs, they took it to a different level with 78 runs for the loss of Santner for the very last ball.

Santner ended up with 47 runs in 26 balls with two fours and four sixes, while McConchie got an unbeaten 31 runs in 23 balls with three boundaries and a pair of sixes. New Zealand made their way to 168/7 and picked two early wickets of the Sri Lanka side with the ball.

Brief Score: New Zealand 168/7 (Mitchell Santner 47, Maheesh Theekshana 3/30) vs Sri Lanka 24/2 (Kusal Mendis 10*, Matt Henry 2/3)