Dilshan and Sangakkara play stellar roles:

Lankans stuff the Kiwis to enter final

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from the R Premadasa Stadium

Sri Lanka repeated their act of 2007 in the Caribbean by beating New Zealand by five wickets to enter the final of the 2011 World Cup. They will now meet the winner of the second semi-final between India and Pakistan to be played in India today.

When Samaraweera hit the winning run, the full house of spectators went delirious with joy singing and dancing to the baila beats of the papare, papare bands. In reply to New Zealand’s 217, Sri Lanka made 220 for 5.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara drives on the off side. Picture by Kamal Jayamanna

Leaving the ground we watched people dancing on the streets and singing we are the champions. Fire crackers rent the air and fireworks lit up the night.

The Sri Lankans gave an excellent display in all aspects of the game. After surrendering the early advantage to New Zealand by losing the toss, the Lankans hit back with a vengeance to clip the Kiwis wings and waltz to victory. Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan again gave Sri Lanka a flying start putting on 40 in double quick time, before Jesse Ryder took a diving catch at point to dismiss Tharanga for 30 in 36 balls with a six and 4 fours.

Man of the Match Sangakkara joined Dilshan and together they gave an excellent lesson in good batsmanship. Never overawed by the occasion, they played some lovely drives and cuts and never allowed the Kiwi bowlers to take control. Both have been in the runs for the good of the team.The right hand left hand combination seemed to rattle the Kiwi bowlers and none of them could settle down to a line or length.

Dilshan went for a well played 73 with 10 fours and a six. He added 120 in 152 balls with Sangakkara for the second wicket. Mahela Jayawardena was unlucky to be LBW to Vettori for one. Chamara Silva went for 13 bowled by Southee.

Sangakkara played yet another captain’s innings to make 54 with 7 fours and one six in 79 balls. His off driving was a treat to watch. He was caught at third man by Ryder off McKay.The New Zealanders who drew first blood by winning the all important toss failed to take advantage and could make only 217 in 48.5.

Had it not been for a plucky innings of 57 from Scott Styris, the Kiwis would have been in a worst situation. Other than for Ross Taylor who made 36, the other batsmen did not seem capable of pushing the quick runs.

Styris showed good timing and with some beefy drives reached his 50 in 64 deliveries with 5 fours. He was out LBW to Muralitheran for 57. The Sri Lankan ground fielding was excellent with fielders diving to save many boundaries. The good news from the Sri Lankan camp was that off spinner Muttiah Muralitheran who tormented the New Zealand batsmen in their previous meeting was fit to take his place in the team.

New Zealand who lost to Sri Lanka in the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, elected to bat first after skipper Daniel Vettori called correctly. Skipper Daniel Vettori had voiced his displeasure that this semi-final was being played on the same wicket on which Sri Lanka clubbed England in the quarter-final.

The New Zealand openers Martin Guptil and Brendon McCallum started off briskly and the manner in which they timed their strokes showed that the wicket was a good one for batting.

The usually aggressive Brendon McCallum seemed to be settling down well. But after hitting a four and a six impetuosity made him lose his wicket when he attempted a cross bat shot was bowled by Herath whom he hit for six. He made 13. Guptil was joined by left hander Jesse Ryder and they went in a slow but sure fashion putting on 37, before Ryder attempting to cut Muralitheran got a nick to be gobbled up by wicket keeper Sangakkara for 19.

Malinga who opened the attack and bowled only one over, came on from the press box end and bowled Guptil with an in swinging yorker for 39 at 84. He hit three fours.

The Kiwis most experienced batsmen Ross Taylor and Scott Styris joined hands to repair the innings. Taylor who has been a prolific scorer in this World Cup quickly made his intentions known by playing some lovely strokes on the off side of the wicket.

Styris who can bat but who has not been in the runs,took on responsibility and kept supporting his partner by pushing the singles and twos and keeping the scoreboard moving. They hoisted their 50 run stand in 63 balls which was good going considering that the Lankan bowlers and fielders were not giving anything away. Skipper Sangakkara was switching his bowlers cleverly and the bowlers responded by not letting Taylor and Styris to cut loose. They took the total to 161 and their partnership to 77 in 106 balls when Taylor attempting to hit Mendis out of the ground was held by Upul Tharaga at mid wicket.

Taylor made 36 in 55 balls with a solitary four. He looked good for more runs and in his urge to shift gear and move the score along played a rash shot. His was a big wicket.

Kane Williamson made a quick 22 with three fours and added 31 for the fifth wicket with Styris who was going strongly. Malinga had Williamson plumb in front for 22 with 3 fours.

Nathan McCallum cam in next but did not stay long, going caught behind by Sangakkara for 9 with the score n 204. He had a huge six off Muralitheran.

Jacob Oram from whom much was expected went for 7 caught at long on by Mahela Jayawardena at 215. Tim Southee went for no score at 217 and at the same score Mckay also for no score and NZ were all out for 217.

Muttiah Muralitheran had 2 for 42 in 10 and Lasith Malinga 3 for 55, Ajantha Mendis 3 for 35.

SCORECARD
	NEW ZEALAND

M. Guptill b Malinga 			 39
B. McCullum b Herath 			 13
J. Ryder c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 	 19
R. Taylor c Tharanga b Mendis 		 36
S. Styris lbw b Muralitharan 		 57
K. Williamson lbw b Malinga 		 22
N. McCullum c Sangakkara b Malinga 	 09
J. Oram c Jayawardene b Dilshan 	 07
D. Vettori not out 			 03
T. Southee c Sangakkara b Mendis 	 00
A. McKay b Mendis 			 00
Extras: (lb5, nb1, w6) 			 12
TOTAL: (all out; 48.5 overs) 		217
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (B. McCullum), 2-69 (Ryder), 3-84 (Guptill), 4-161 
		(Taylor),
		 5-192 (Williamson), 6-204 (N. McCullum), 7-213 (Styris), 8-215 
		(Oram), 9-217 (Southee), 10-217 (McKay).









Bowling: Malinga 9-0-55-3 (nb1), Herath 9-1-31-1 (w1), Mathews 6-0-27-0,
	 Mendis 9.5-0-35-3, Muralitharan 10-1-42-2 (w2), Dilshan 5-0-22-1 (w3).

									SRI LANKA

U. Tharanga c Ryder b Southee 		 30
T. Dilshan c Ryder b Southee 		 73
K. Sangakkara c Styris b McKay 		 54
M. Jayawardene lbw b Vettori 		 01
T. Samaraweera not out 			 23
C. Silva b Southee 			 13
A. Mathews not out 			 14
Extras: (lb2, w10) 			 12
TOTAL: (for five wkts; 47.5 overs) 	220

Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Tharanga), 2-160 (Dilshan), 3-161 (Jayawardene), 
		4-169 (Sangakkara), 5-185 (Silva).
















Bowling: N. McCullum 6-0-33-0 (w1), Southee 10-2-57-3 (w3), Vettori 
		10-0-36-1,
	 Oram 8-1-29-0, McKay 9.5-1-37-1 (w6), Styris 2-0-12-0, Ryder 
		2-0-14-0.