From the iSport Cricket Pavilion: Gutsy Half-centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) helped Sri Lanka chase down a moderate total of 217 and reach the finals of the World Cup for the second time in a row beating New Zealand by five wickets at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
New Zealand won the toss, elected to bat and their openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum started off well adding 32 runs for the first wicket, hitting four boundaries and a six inside seven overs. But McCullum (13), attempting a slog-sweep, was cleaned up by Rangana Herath via an arm ball in the eighth over. Guptill and Jesse Ryder played cautiously adding 37 from 11 overs before Ryder (19), trying to cut, was caught behind off Muttiah Muralitharan in the 19th over. Guptill's fighting innings of 39 came to an end three overs later when he was cleaned up by Malinga via an unplayable inswinging Yorker.
Ross Taylor and Scott Styris then steadied the ship adding 77 runs for the fourth wicket, with the latter being severe on Malinga hitting him for four classic boundaries which included beautiful drives and ferocious pulls. Ross Taylor, playing a struggling innings, then departed in the 40th over trying to lift the run rate, caught at deep midwicket. Styris and Kane Williamson added quick-fire 31 runs from four overs as Styris brought up his half-century from 64 deliveries.
Williamson then departed in powerplay trapped leg before by Mailnga and Nathan McCullum too didn't last long as he was caught behind off a Malinga slower delivery and New Zealand were reduced to 204 for 6 in the 46th over.
Muralitharan then had a fairy-tale ending to his career in front of his home fans as he trapped the big-fish, Styris, leg before wicket off the last delivery of his spell. An over later Dilshan had Jacob Oram caught at long-on to reduce the Kiwis to 215 for eight.
Sri Lanka then wrapped up the tail with Ajantha Mendis picking up the last two wickets to restrict New Zealand to 217 in 48.5 overs. New Zealand's lost their last six wickets for just 25 runs.
In reply, Sri Lanka started off aggressively as openers Upul Tharanga (30) and Dilshan added 40 runs in just seven overs. Tharanga (30) was then dismissed by Southee having him brilliantly caught by Ryder at point. Dilshan and Sangakkara then set the platform for an easy victory as they added 120 runs in 25 overs for the second wicket Dilshan brought up his half-century from 71 deliveries while Sangakkara brought up his half-century from 72 deliveries. But there was a twist in the tail as Sri Lanka lost three quick wickets in space of five overs. The twist started in the 33rd over when Dilshan was caught at point off Southee and in the very next over Daniel Vettori trapped Mahela Jayawardene leg before wicket for one.
McKay then got the crucial wicket of Sangakkara caught at third man for 54 to reduce Sri Lanka to 169 for 4 in the 37th over. Some Disciplined bowling from the Kiwis saw the pressure mount on the Lankans with Chamara Silva and Thilan Samaraweera adding just nine runs in six overs. The pressure got to the batsmen and Chamara Silva (13) chopped one onto his stumps in the 43rd over with the score on 185.
But an injured Angelo Mathews and Samaraweera made sure that there were no more slip-ups adding 35 runs from 33 deliveries wrapping up the game with 13 balls to spare.
Kumar Sangakkara was named the man of the match for his gutsy innings of 54.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 13 balls remaining)
Scores: New Zealand: 217/10
Sri Lanka: 220/5
Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara
For more action on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 click here
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