Live: New Zealand chasing 116 against Sri Lanka

Match Centre and Scorecard

New Zealand require 116 to pick up a crucial win in Group A and strengthen their hopes of reaching the semi-finals, having restricted Sri Lanka to 115/5 in their 20 overs.

And the Kiwi batters are going well in their chase, with openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer making a sizeable dent in the target with an unbeaten stand through the powerplay.

Bates was the first wicket to fall, bowled by Sachini Nisansala for 17, but the White Ferns remain well on course.

Sri Lanka are unable to reach the knockout stages after three defeats in three games, but put in a much-improved performance thanks largely to captain Chamari Athapaththu’s classy 35 at the top of the order.

But White Ferns all-rounder Melie Kerr ensured that Athapaththu didn’t kick on after a decent start, and played a crucial role in stifling Sri Lanka through the middle overs, taking 2/13 in four overs.

The story of the first innings

Sri Lanka made the start they would have been hoping for having won the toss and opted to bat first in Sharjah, with captain Chamari Athapaththu making a significant contribution for the first time in the tournament.

Sri Lanka reached 34/1 by the end of the powerplay, with fellow opener Vishmi Gunaratne back in the hutch after a platform-setting 8 from 15 balls that helped blunt New Zealand’s opening salvo.

And Athapaththu kicked on after the powerplay, as Sri Lanka built themselves towards a competitive first-innings score, reaching 57/1 at the midway point of the innings.

WATCH: Exquisite fours power Sri Lanka's start | WT20WC 2024

But New Zealand hit back through the middle overs, inspired by the brilliance of all-rounder Melie Kerr.

It was Kerr who got the vital breakthrough as Athapaththu played on to depart for a 41-ball 35 as she looked to up the scoring rate.

Kerr also held on to a decent catch as Leigh Kasperek drew a false shot out of the other set batter Harshitha Samarawickrama (18 from 29), and then struck again with the ball to remove Kavisha Dilhari lbw for 10.

Kerr finished with superb figures of 2/13 from her four overs.

WATCH: New Zealand back in the game with big strikes | WT20WC 2024

Playing XIs

New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Melie Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Leigh Kasperek, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunarathne, Chamari Athapaththuthu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Inoshi Fernando, Ama Kanchana, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodani