Rachin Ravindra, a young star from New Zealand, is continuing his incredible form in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. On Thursday, November 9, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, he helped his side defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in their last league match. The southpaw joined Devon Conway (45 off 42) in an 86-run partnership, playing a magnificent performance of 42 off 34 balls, slamming three fours and as many sixes in his innings.
Rachin Ravindra incredible stroke play had the audience at the Chinnaswamy Stadium cheering once more. The 23-year-old faced Dhananjaya de Silva, who produced some magnificent strokes that easily launched him into the audience. He produced a fantastic slog sweep on the third ball of the seventh over, blasting the ball 10 rows back into the crowd.
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Notably, Rachin Ravindra scored 565 runs from nine innings at an average of 70.62 and a strike rate of 108.44, including three hundreds and two fifties, to become the tournament’s top run scorer during his innings.
Daryl Mitchell led the innings with his knock of 43 (31) striking five fours and two sixes, taking his side closer to victory after a spectacular start by Ravindra and Conway. They chased down the target of 172 in 23.2 overs, with Glenn Phillips (17* off 10) and Tom Latham (2* off 2) ultimately sealing the deal for their side.
The only fighter in Sri Lanka during that era was Kusal Pererera.
Earlier in the day, after being placed to bat first, Tim Southee forced Sri Lanka’s opener Pathum Nissanka (2 off 8) to edge one straight to Tom Latham, and the team lost. Captain Kusal Mendis entered the game at number three, but he again left quickly, being removed after just six out of seven against Trent Boult. After 4.4 overs, the left-arm seamer had taken out Sadeera Samarawickrama (1 off 2) in the same over, leaving Sri Lanka at 32/3.
On the other end, Kusal Perera took full advantage of Latham’s early parry to score an incredible 51 (28) off of nine fours and two sixes. But once he was out, Sri Lanka’s innings collapsed horribly, and after 32.1 overs, they were reduced to 128/9. To help their team surpass the 150-run threshold, Maheesh Theekshana (38* off 91) and Dilshan Madushanka (19 off 48) contributed 43 runs for the tenth wicket.
New Zealand’s best bowler was Trent Boult, who claimed 3/37 in 10 overs. Mitchell Santner (2/22) and Lockie Ferguson (2/35) each claimed two wickets.