In a remarkable achievement at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner etched his name into cricket history. During the Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Sri Lanka, Santner became the sixth player from an ICC full-member nation to amass 1,000 runs and claim 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. He stands as the first Kiwi to accomplish this unique double.
Batting first after losing the toss, New Zealand stumbled early, slumping to 34 for 2 with openers Finn Allen (23 off 13) and Tim Seifert (8) back in the hut. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra steadied the ship with a 41-run stand for the third wicket, pushing the score to 75. But the middle order crumbled, leaving the Black Caps at 84 for 6.
Enter Santner. The skipper unleashed a blistering 47 off 26 balls, smashing 4 sixes and 2 fours. Partnering with Cole McConchie, who scored 31 off 23, Santner forged an 84-run partnership off 47 balls, propelling New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7.
This innings not only rescued the innings but also marked Santner’s entry into an elite club. Joining him are Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, India’s Hardik Pandya, and Pakistan’s Shadab Khan. Santner’s all-round prowess continues to define New Zealand’s campaign in the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera starred with 3 wickets each, while Dunith Wellalage chipped in with one. As the chase looms, Santner’s milestone adds extra intrigue to this high-stakes encounter.