New Zealand all but qualify for Cricket World Cup semis

New Zealand have thrashed Sri Lanka by five wickets to all but secure their place in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

For large parts of Tuesday's fixture between Australia and Afghanistan, it appeared that the Black Caps would go into their final group fixture trailing the latter.

However, Glenn Maxwell's heroics kept New Zealand in fourth and with their destiny in their own hands, leaving them a big win over Sri Lanka away from sealing their place in the last four.

Throughout the fixture in Bengaluru, it was one-way traffic with Sri Lanka being bowled out for 171 before New Zealand reached their target after just 23.2 overs, albeit with five wickets down.

Although Kusal Perera scored 51 at the top of the innings for Sri Lanka, . . .