Blackcaps put one foot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals

The Blackcaps have got themselves out of a sticky situation and almost into the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

All-rounder Cole McConchie, who was a late addition to the squad as an injury replacement for Michael Bracewell, was the unlikely hero along with captain Mitchell Santner.

New Zealand were struggling at 84 for 6 after 12.1 overs as Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell fell quickly to the Sri Lankan spinners on a slow pitch.

But McConchie made 31 off 23 balls and Santner 47 off 26 in an 84-run partnership that got the Blackcaps through to 168 for 7.

Santner says it was an above-par total.

"I think the longer we could take it, me and Cole [McConchie] were thinking we're trying to get to 140,” Santner told Sky Sport.

“But you know, that kind of sets it up for the last kind of two, three overs and I guess 160 was not bad from there."

The skipper’s especially pleased for his 34 year-old teammate from Canterbury who had been out for the T20 side for almost two years.

"It’s fantastic for Cole, obviously a bit of a nervy start with me and him at the crease there, three off ten each probably, but then you know, we were just thinking the longer we could take it, then we took it quite deep which was nice.”

Pace bowler Matt Henry got the Blackcaps off to the best possible start, clean-bowling Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the innings.

New Zealand then bowled 17 overs of spin with Rachin Ravindra taking career-best figures of 4 for 27.

The left-armer's paying tribute to the skipper.

"No one better than Santner the captain to tell you to bowl slow, he is obviously a master in that craft so we all sort of thought about it as a spin group and decided pace off is better."

New Zealand now have a win and a wash-out from their two Super Eight matches.

Beat England on Saturday and they’re through to the semi-finals.

Lose and they can still reach the final four if Sri Lanka beats Pakistan.