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- Technical issue left players struggling to hold their composure
New Zealand players were left confused and struggling to keep their composure after a major technical error saw their national anthem played at the wrong speed before a crucial T20 World Cup match in Colombo.
The unusual moment occurred ahead of the Black Caps’ Super Eight clash with England at R. Premadasa Stadium, when ‘God Defend New Zealand’ began playing over the stadium speakers at an abnormally fast tempo.
Players had already lined up for the traditional pre-match ceremony when the audio glitch became immediately apparent.
Television cameras captured the New Zealand squad attempting to follow along, but several players were visibly amused by the unexpected situation.
Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert were among those seen trying to stay composed, while fast bowler Matt Henry openly laughed as the anthem raced ahead of its normal pace.
Support staff also appeared unable to contain their reactions, with the entire scene unfolding in front of a global broadcast audience during one of cricket’s most formal pre-match traditions.
New Zealand players struggled to maintain their composure while the national anthem was played
The Black Caps suffered a loss against England which has put a severe dent in their semi-final ambitions
New Zealand will not sweat on the results of other matches to determine their World Cup fate
The technical error came at a critical point in the tournament, with New Zealand needing a strong result to strengthen their chances of reaching the semifinals.
Despite the unusual start, the Black Caps regrouped and produced a competitive total after winning the toss and electing to bat.
New Zealand openers Allen and Seifert gave their side early momentum, putting on 64 runs in the opening seven overs.
Contributions from Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman helped steady the innings, while captain Mitchell Santner provided a late highlight by striking a six off the final ball to push the total to 159-7 from 20 overs.
England’s chase did not begin smoothly. Phil Salt fell for just two runs, while captain Jos Buttler continued his difficult tournament with another low score.
However, England recovered through key partnerships and late hitting, eventually reaching the target of 160 with three balls remaining to secure a four-wicket victory.
The result dealt a setback to New Zealand’s immediate semifinal hopes, leaving qualification dependent on other results.
After the match, Santner acknowledged how close his side had come to securing a vital win.
‘Would have made our lives easier if we won,’ Santner said.
‘We played a pretty good game. Credit to England. Jacks and Rehan with the finishing touches, it was a good bit of batting.’
