Sri Lanka beat New Zealand

Co-hosts Sri Lanka produced a brilliant bowling performance to beat New Zealand by 112 runs in their Cricket World Cup Group-A clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India today.



Chasing 266 for victory, New Zealand were bowled out for a paltry 153 runs in 35 overs.



Muttiah Muralitharan with four wickets broke New Zealand's back as he got rid of James Franlkin for 20, Kane Williamson for 5, Ross Taylor for 33 and Scott Styris for 6 in quick succession.



Ajantha Mendiz supported with two wickets, while Tillakaratne Dilshan dismiss another Kiwi hope in the form of Nathan McCullum for four.



Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara led from the front to hit a fine 111 as Sri Lanka posted 265 for 9.



The Sri Lankan skipper also put on 145 runs for the third wicket with his deputy Mahela Jayawardene 66 to pull his team out of early trouble in the day-night match.



Tim Southee was the most successful bowler for New Zealand with three for 63. The two teams have already made it to the quarterfinals and the result of this game will determine their final Group-A positions.



In the day’s other match, Paul Stirling hit a century off 70 balls as Ireland bowed out of the World Cup with a stirring six-wicket victory over Netherlands in at Eden Gardens in India.



Set 307 to win, Stirling 101 and William Porterfield 68 produced an opening stand of 177 from 162 balls to lead Ireland to the target with 14 balls remaining.



Niall O'Brien 57 not out helped wrap up the third highest run chase in World Cup history in the 48th over.



Earlier, Ryan ten Doeschate made 106 as Netherlands posted 306 all out, with four run outs off the last four balls.



Both sides went into the game knowing they could no longer qualify for the quarter-finals from Group-B, with Ireland's victory over England the only other win by either side in the competition.



The competition continues tomorrow with Bangladesh against South Africa at Dhaka in Bangladesh and champions Australia playing Pakistan at Colombo in Sri Lanka.