Sri Lanka restricted New Zealand to 217 all out in the first semifinal at the Cricket World Cup, where record one-day and Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan is playing his last match on home soil.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first on the same wicket at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium where Sri Lanka humiliated England by 10 wickets in a March 26 quarterfinal. Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis claimed three wickets each and Muralitharan got 2-42, including New Zealand’s top scorer Scott Styris (57) with his last ball.
After New Zealand Innings Sri lanka starting to chase 217 score, Sri Lanka overcame a late wobble to battle past New Zealand by five wickets and book their place in the World Cup final.
The co-hosts were coasting to victory while Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) was continuing his prolific form in a 120-run stand with Kumar Sangakkara (54).
Dilshan deposed England's Jonathan Trott as the tournament's top runscorer in what appeared a straightforward chase of 217 all out under lights at the Premadasa Stadium.
But the second-wicket pair were both among the batsmen to go as Sri Lanka stumbled and stalled from 160 for one in the 33rd over to 185 for five in the 43rd.
Some strong nerves were therefore required from the late middle order to haul them through - with a flattering 13 balls to spare - to an all-subcontinental showpiece decider in Mumbai on Saturday, against either Pakistan or India.
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