New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: Sri Lanka must address their struggle against spin bowlers when they face New Zealand in a must-win Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.

T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points table

The hosts failed to chase 147 against England on a slow surface in Pallekele. Batting conditions in Sri Lanka have been more demanding compared to co-hosts India, and the pattern is expected to continue at the Premadasa Stadium, where larger boundaries limit six-hitting.

Shot selection came under focus after the loss in the Super Eight opener, and Sri Lanka will look to correct those errors.

“It’s a T20 game, so obviously you come into a game, so you are looking to score as many runs as you can. So when the ball is not coming on to the bat, it’s easier said than done,” Sri Lanka’s batting coach Vikram Rathour reflected on the side’s poor poor performance.

“Are there better options? Yes, definitely could have been taken. I thought on a wicket where the ball is stopping, so pushing is not a great idea. A couple of our wickets lost out on guys pushing for a single. I don’t think that was a great option in these conditions,” he added.

Pathum Nissanka has led the batting effort so far, while left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage has performed with the ball. The fast bowlers have also delivered in the tournament.

New Zealand shared a point with Pakistan after their match at Premadasa was washed out. They have spin options, including captain Mitchell Santner.

With no rain forecast, both teams will aim for their first win in the Super Eight stage.

New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were in form during the league phase and will look to continue that run.

Rachin Ravindra is also expected to contribute after scoring a fifty in his previous innings against Canada.

A 7,400 sq ft apartment at DLF The Camellias in Gurugram has been purchased by Berkshire Hathaway’s Ajit Jain. The vice-chairman overseeing insurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway, Ajit Jain, is regarded as one of Warren Buffett’s most trusted associates. The apartment has been bought for around Rs 85 crore, according to sources quoted in an ET report.Jain, who has spent most of his time living abroad, recently visited Delhi to complete the deal, the sources said. One person aware of the development said non-resident Indians account for more than 25% of DLF’s ultra-luxury housing portfolio, and Jain is among the most prominent buyers in this segment. The individual added that premium amenities offered at such developments are a major attraction for those who plan to spend only part of the year in India. Jain is widely considered one of the most influential Indian-origin business leaders in the United States.Property consultants noted that since the Covid period, ultra-high-net-worth individuals have increasingly favoured secure, gated condominium projects over independent bungalows, as such residences provide access to a wide range of on-site facilities.ET recently reported that an industrialist purchased four apartments at DLF’s new ultra-luxury project, The Dahlias, for close to Rs 380 crore, making it one of the country’s most expensive apartment transactions.In 2025, Gurugram saw the costliest property deal in the National Capital Region, overtaking Lutyens’ Delhi for the first time. Prices per square foot in the city have surpassed those in Mumbai and reached levels comparable with London and Dubai. Earlier, British entrepreneur Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia had acquired an 11,416 sq ft apartment in the same project for Rs 100 crore.Info-x Software Technology, through its director Rishi Parti, had also purchased a 16,000 sq ft penthouse for Rs 190 crore.In October 2023, ET reported the first Rs 100-crore transaction at the same residential complex on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road.

US Wall Street’s main indices opened higher on Wednesday, recovering after recent volatility as investors weighed concerns surrounding the AI trade and uncertainty over tariffs ahead of Nvidia’s earnings later in the day (local time).The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 183.1 points, or 0.37%, to 49,357.63 at the open. The S&P 500 gained 25.1 points, or 0.36%, to 6,915.15, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 141.3 points, or 0.62%, to 23,005.008.Nvidia remains at the centre of the AI-driven market narrative, with its chips playing a pivotal role in the ongoing surge in artificial intelligence investments. The company has become one of the most influential stocks on Wall Street.Analysts are projecting another strong earnings performance, with Nvidia’s profit expected to jump nearly 70 per cent year-on-year to $37.52 billion. Such a result would translate into daily earnings exceeding $400 million during the three months through January 25.Nvidia’s earnings reports have increasingly served as a barometer for broader market trends, given the company’s size and AI’s outsized influence on equities. In recent years, enthusiasm around AI helped propel markets to repeated record highs, driven by expectations of productivity gains and improved corporate profitability.However, investor concerns have intensified over the sustainability of heavy AI-related spending. Market participants are closely watching whether major technology companies such as Alphabet and Amazon can generate sufficient returns on their substantial investments in AI infrastructure and chips. Any slowdown in capital expenditure could directly impact Nvidia.Investors have also begun reassessing sectors perceived as vulnerable to AI-led disruption, triggering sharp sell-offs across industries ranging from software to logistics and legal services.“While those concerns are real, we believe investors would be wise to balance them out with offsetting trends that may be underappreciated in the current wall of worry headline cycle,” said Darrell Cronk, Chief Investment Officer for Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo.One such offsetting trend has been the steady growth in corporate earnings reported by large US companies, which has supported segments of the market previously overshadowed by AI-focused stocks, particularly smaller firms.Shares of Cava Group surged 18.6 per cent after the Mediterranean restaurant chain posted stronger-than-expected profit and revenue. The company also reported annual revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, marking a 22.5 per cent increase from a year earlier.Similarly, Axon Enterprise jumped 16.5 per cent following better-than-expected earnings, aided by demand for its Tasers, body cameras, and AI-powered solutions.The gains helped counterbalance weakness in First Solar, whose shares fell 14.2 per cent after reporting profit below market expectations.

NEW DELHI: Delhi is poised to position itself as a global hub of cinema, art and culture with the national capital set to host an international film festival from March 25 to 31, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday.At the curtain-raiser of the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026 at the Delhi Secretariat, the chief minister said the movie gala will mark a significant step towards positioning Delhi as a global cultural and cinematic destination. Gupta said the festival would go beyond film screenings and celebrate Delhi’s creative energy, cultural heritage and contemporary outlook.Designed as a public, city-wide festival, the festival aims to bring world cinema closer to ordinary citizens while offering local filmmakers and technicians an international platform for exchange and collaboration.The festival will be held at multiple prominent venues across New Delhi, including Bharat Mandapam.The chief minister said the initiative is aligned with the Delhi government’s film policy, which focuses on single-window clearances, production support and industry partnerships to make the city an attractive destination for film shoots.She added that the festival is expected to boost film tourism, talent development, creative industries and employment generation.According to a statement, more than 125 Indian and international films will be screened during the seven-day event, along with gala premieres, masterclasses, industry interactions, workshops and cultural performances.The festival is being organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and is envisioned as a long-term cultural project to establish Delhi as a global film hub.Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra said the city is emerging as a “creative capital” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi CM Gupta.The government has also planned cultural evenings and live performances at the festival to give it a broader public and celebratory character.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took serious exception to Class 8 NCERT test book containing reference to corruption in the judiciary.A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant took suo motu cognizance on the matter and said that he would not “allow anyone on earth to defame judiciary.”The incorporation of reference to corruption in judiciary was flagged by Kapil Sibal, A M Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi before CJI, who said it appears to be a deep-rooted and calculated conspiracy to defame judiciary. “I have already taken suo motu cognizance of it,” he said. Sibal said it is objectionable that school children are being taught about corruption in judiciary when people have maximum faith in this institution. Singhvi said the text book does not refer to corruption in politics, bureaucracy and business and targets only judiciary.CJI Kant said he has been receiving calls from all quarters expressing concern over “selective reference” to corruption in the most trusted institution. “Wait for a day. I have already taken suo motu cognizance. The SC and HC judgs are perturbed,” he said.This comes after a newly introduced NCERT social science textbook for class 8 outlined key challenges facing country’s judicial system, including corruption, a heavy backlog of cases and an inadequate number of judges.The revised chapter, titled: ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’, expands beyond explaining the structure of courts and access to justice to discuss systemic issues that affect the functioning of the judiciary. Earlier editions of the textbook primarily focused on the organisation and role of courts. One section of the new book addresses corruption within the judicial system and its impact on access to justice, particularly for economically weaker sections.“People do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary. For the poor and the disadvantaged, this can worsen the issue of access to justice. Hence, efforts are constantly being made at the State and Union levels to build faith and increase transparency in the judicial system, including through the use of technology, and to take swift and decisive action against instances of corruption wherever they may arise,” the chapter states.The textbook also presents data on the scale of pending cases across courts. It estimates that about 81,000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, around 62.40 lakh in high courts, and approximately 4.70 crore in district and subordinate courts.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “steadily translating into action,” as negotiations for an India–Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) gather momentum, as PM Modi reaches Israel.In a post on X, Goyal highlighted ongoing discussions with an Israeli delegation currently in New Delhi. He wrote, “Building the future, together. Thank you, my dear friend. Indeed, this is a historic and special moment. As our leaders, PM @NarendraModi ji & PM @Netanyahu meet, their shared vision is steadily translating into action, with the Israeli delegation in New Delhi advancing the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations. I had a productive interaction with the Israeli team, reflecting our shared commitment to deepening economic engagement. It is encouraging to see both sides working closely to unlock new opportunities in trade, innovation & growth, further strengthening our valued partnership.”

Goyal’s remarks came in response to former Israeli minister Nir Barkat, who had earlier welcomed the progress in talks. Barkat posted on X, “Making history! A photo just sent to me by the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, my friend @PiyushGoyal. A delegation led by the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry has arrived in India to launch negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between our nations! Thanks to the strategic relationship between our leaders, @netanyahu and @narendramodi, and the friendship I have forged with Piyush, we are on the way to a breakthrough that creates great new opportunities between our countries and will serve as a powerful growth engine for the economies of Israel and India. Modi, welcome to Israel!”Meanwhile, PM Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day state visit. He was received by Netanyahu.In a separate post on X, PM Modi expressed confidence about the visit, stating that he looked forward to bilateral discussions and outcomes that would further strengthen ties between India and Israel.

In a major action against alleged workplace misconduct in a private school, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has withdrawn the affiliation of Uttarakhand Public School, Sector-56, Noida, following serious complaints of mental harassment, salary irregularities and administrative mismanagement.The decision, formalised through an order dated February 18, 2026, comes after months of inquiry into allegations raised by former teachers and directions issued by the Allahabad High Court.Complaints that led to the investigationThe case came to the fore in early 2025 when a number of teachers, most of whom were women, filed complaints stating that they were being subjected to mental harassment by the school authorities. The complaints spoke of an unhealthy work environment, indecent behavior on the part of the higher authorities, being forced to work on holidays, and being coerced into resigning if they did not comply with the demands.The most disturbing of the complaints was with regard to the payment of salaries. The teachers alleged that a part of their salary was being demanded back by the school authorities under duress.The case reached the Allahabad High Court when a number of teachers, who had been let go by the school, challenged the decision in court. In its order of October 17, 2025, the Court asked the CBSE to conduct its inquiry within a stipulated time period and take appropriate action on the basis of its findings.State inquiry confirms irregularitiesBased on the complaints, the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Gautam Budh Nagar, initiated a thorough probe through a two-member committee. The inquiry confirmed that the complaints were valid.According to the inquiry report, teachers, especially female teachers, were working in a hostile and insecure environment. The committee also confirmed that a large amount of money had been collected from teachers by the school administration. Interestingly, around Rs 68 lakh was returned to the teachers after some objections were raised during the inquiry.The inquiry report also mentioned some administrative irregularities, stating that major decisions were being taken by the school manager, and the principal was not acting independently. Teachers who raised objections were forced to resign.School’s response fails to convinceIn its response to the show-cause notice issued by the CBSE in August 2025, the school repudiated all the charges. The school authorities asserted that the inquiry was one-sided, and teachers had voluntarily contributed to the funds because of the financial crisis being experienced by the school. The school further asserted that the statutory committees, as required under POSH and POCSO, were established and functioning.However, the CBSE was not satisfied with the response. The CBSE held that the fact that the school had already returned Rs 68 lakh showed that the contribution was not voluntary. The CBSE also held that the school had not provided any documentary evidence to substantiate its claims about the disciplinary actions taken against teachers, the grievance redressal mechanism, or the legal termination of teachers.The CBSE held that the presence of several complaints and the report of the state inquiry made it clear that there was a pattern of harassment and non-compliance with the prescribed service conditions.Why the affiliation was withdrawnIn its order, the CBSE made it clear that affiliated schools must ensure a safe, dignified, and professional working environment for their staff. The Board noted that failure to pay salaries as per norms, mental harassment, and the lack of a safe working environment for women were serious violations of the Affiliation Bye-Laws and the statutory provisions regarding workplace safety.The Board described the violations as “gross and persistent” and said that continuing the affiliation in such a scenario would be “prejudicial to the interests of teachers, students, and other stakeholders.”What it means for studentsAlthough the withdrawal of the affiliation has been done with immediate effect, the Board has ensured that there is minimal disruption in academics for the students. Students of Classes X and XII will be permitted to finish the 2025-26 academic session and sit for their board exams from the same school.Students of Classes IX and XI, however, will be transferred to other CBSE-affiliated schools in the vicinity by March 31, 2026. The school has also been prohibited from taking new admissions or allowing lower-class students to join Classes IX and XI.The school can apply for the reinstatement of affiliation only after two years of academics, and even then, only if it adheres to all safety, administrative, and service standards.

In a tournament where small margins have defined survival, Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana provided a moment of individual brilliance to redeem himself after a costly early lapse during T20 World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand. During the critical Super 8 encounter against New Zealand on February 25, 2026, Theekshana turned the tide of the match by executing a spectacular return catch to dismiss the dangerous Finn Allen.

Just an over earlier, the mystery spinner had dropped a ‘sitter’ of Tim Siefert at short third man off Dilshan Madushanka‘s bowling, a mistake that left the bowler livid and threatened to haunt Sri Lanka in a must-win game. However, his quick-thinking athleticism soon after not only energized the Sri Lankan camp but allowed him to personally correct the momentum before Allen could take the game away.

Maheesh Theekshana’s redemption: A stunning return catch to remove Finn Allen

The dismissal occurred in the fourth over of the New Zealand innings, shortly after Tim Seifert had been given a life due to Theekshana’s spilled chance. Facing the 3.1 delivery, Finn Allen went deep inside his crease to stay leg-side of a carrom ball, attempting to work it away but instead chipping it tamely back toward the bowler.

Showing remarkable reflexes in his follow-through, Theekshana reacted instantly as the ball stayed low to his left. He threw himself toward the turf and claimed the catch with both hands just inches above the ground. Upon completing the catch, he threw the ball toward the umpire and hit the turf, a clear sign of both relief and lingering frustration over his previous fielding error.

Here’s the video: 

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Here’s why James Neesham and Kamil Mishara are not playing today’s SL vs NZ Super 8 match

Dushmantha Chameera and Theekshana stun New Zealand early in Colombo

The Super 8 showdown at the R. Premadasa Stadium has reached a fever pitch as Sri Lanka’s bowling unit produced an inspired opening burst to leave New Zealand reeling at 75/3 after 10 overs. After Dasun Shanaka won a crucial toss and opted to bowl, Theekshana provided the first breakthrough by removing a dangerous-looking Allen for 23, pouching a sharp caught-and-bowled to atone for an earlier dropped chance.

The momentum swung further in the hosts’ favor when Dushmantha Chameera entered the attack, striking twice in quick succession to dismiss Tim Seifert for 8 and the explosive Glenn Phillips for 18, the latter being beaten for pace as his stumps were rattled. Currently, Rachin Ravindra is fighting a lone battle with a composed 26, attempting to anchor the innings alongside Daryl Mitchell as they navigate a surface that is already showing signs of significant turn and variable bounce.

The Colombo crowd is in full voice as the Sri Lankan spinners, led by Theekshana, have effectively dried up the boundaries, forcing the Kiwis into a cautious rebuilding phase. With the projected score dipping below 160, New Zealand desperately needs a substantial partnership in the back half of the innings to remain competitive in what has effectively become a knockout match for the Black Caps.

Also WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026: Super 8 showdown at Pallekele turns ugly as England and Pakistan fans engage in physical altercation

NEW DELHI: A suspected bomb was reported on railway tracks about 1.5 kilometres from Sainthia railway station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Wednesday, triggering a swift response from security agencies and leading to a temporary halt in train movement on one track.As per news agency ANI, Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) rushed to the spot following the alert.Train operations on one of the lines have been stopped as a precautionary measure. Further details are awaited.Authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of the object or whether any explosive material has been recovered.

Recent spate of bomb threats in region

The development comes against the backdrop of multiple bomb threats reported in the region over the past two days.According to news agency PTI, at least three lower courts in West Bengal and Jharkhand received bomb threats on Wednesday, prompting evacuations and search operations. District courts in Asansol and Suri in West Bengal and the civil court in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, were targeted through emails, officials said.“Police teams and bomb squads reached the court premises and search operations are still underway. So far, nothing suspicious has been recovered,” a senior West Bengal police officer said, as quoted by PTI.Naushad Alam, DSP (Law & Order) of Dhanbad, said, “The court premises were thoroughly searched, but so far, no explosive material has been found. Security has been tightened in and around the courts.”On Tuesday as well, at least six courts across West Bengal received bomb threats that later turned out to be hoaxes, reported PTI. Cyber crime cells, in coordination with police, are trying to trace the source of the emails, officials said.It is not yet clear whether the reported bomb on the railway tracks near Sainthia station is linked to the recent threats. Authorities are continuing their investigation.