Sri Lanka qualifies for World Cup final
Published:Tuesday | March 29, 2011 | 4:37 PM
Co-host Sri Lanka booked her place in the Cricket World Cup final after defeating New Zealand by five wickets at the R. Premdasa Stadium a short while ago.
Set 218 to win, Sri Lanka reached the target with 18 balls remaining to win the first semi-final. They ended on 220 for five with Thilan Samaraweera on 20 and Angelo Mathews 14.
Tilakaratne Dilshan top scored for Sri Lanka with 73 and Kumar Sangakkara supported with 54.
Tim Soutee was the most successful bowler for New Zealand with 3 for 57.
Earlier, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis took three wickets apiece to restrict New Zealand to 217 all out off 48.5 overs.
Muttiah Muralitharan chipped in with two wickets.
Scott Styris top scored for New Zealand with 57, his first half-century of the 2011 World Cup.
Co-hosts India and Pakistan will contest the second semi-final tomorrow in Mohali.