CLOSE OF PLAY
Sri Lanka have booked their place in the Final of the World Cup with a very comprehensive 81 run victory over New Zealand. The Kiwi chase appeared to be on course with Styris and Fulton going steadily. But once Styris was gone, the rest of the batsman fell like nine pins as New Zealand lost 5 wickets for 11 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan was, as on most occassions, the star bowler taking 4 wickets for 30 runs. Sri Lanka look to be all set to face either the Aussies or the Proteas in the finals with their captain in the form of his life and the batting, bowling and the fielding firing on all cylinders. Man of the Match is Mahela Jayawardene for his captain's knock.
WICKET
41.4 : T.DILSHAN to J.PATEL , OUT - Patel lofts the ball but doesnt get complete hold of it and Fernando takes a good catch at Mid-Wicket. New Zealand are all out for 208. SL win by 81 runs.
HIGHLIGHT
Last wicket partnership between Franklin and Patel reaches the fifty mark off 52 balls
FOUR
40.2 : S.JAYASURIYA to J.PATEL , Patel has taken the risk and lofted it over the in field. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Taufel.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sanath Jayasuriya comes back into the bowling attack
SIX
39.5 : T.DILSHAN to J.PATEL , Patel comes down the track and hits the ball straight over the bowler. This one's gone all the way over the ropes for a six. Excellent shot by the batsman. Up go the arms of the umpire.
FOUR
39.3 : T.DILSHAN to J.FRANKLIN , Franklin plays a sweep shot through Square Leg. The ball races to the boundary. Umpire Koertzen signals a boundary.
FOUR
36.3 : L.MALINGA to J.FRANKLIN , Deliberately lofted over the slip region by Franklin. The ball has crossed the ropes. Umpire Taufel signals four runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Lasith Malinga comes in to hammer the final nail into the Kiwi coffin
FOUR
34.3 : S.JAYASURIYA to J.PATEL , The batsman has lofted it over Mid-on. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Jeetan Patel is the last man in
WICKET
31.4 : M.M'THARAN to S.BOND , OUT - Bond is beaten by the spin and the ball passes the outside edge to hit the middle stump.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Shane Bond is the new man in
WICKET
30.2 : S.JAYASURIYA to C.MCMILLAN , OUT - McMillan gives the charge to a short ball from Jayasuriya but misses and the ball hits the leg stump.
SIX
30.1 : S.JAYASURIYA to C.MCMILLAN , It's been lofted well over Mid-on by McMillan. That was six from the time it left the bat of the batsman. Six signalled by the umpire.
FOUR
26.5 : S.JAYASURIYA to C.MCMILLAN , Guided down to fine leg by the batsman. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary.
SIX
26.4 : S.JAYASURIYA to C.MCMILLAN , McMillan plays the slog sweep high and well over Mid-Wicket. That was six from the time it left the bat of the batsman. Up go the arms of the umpire.
HIGHLIGHT
New Zealand have lost their last five wickets for 11 runs
NEXT BATSMAN IN
James Franklin is the new man out in the middle
WICKET
25.4 : M.M'THARAN to D.VETTORI , OUT - Vettori defends the ball off the frontfoot but is rapped on the pads. Umpire Koertze decides that the ball would have straightened and raises the finger.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Daniel Vettori is the new man in
WICKET
24.3 : S.JAYASURIYA to P.FULTON , OUT - Fulton misreads the delivery and ends up getting a leading edge straight to Silva at Mid-On.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Craig McMillan comes to the crease as New Zealand start to collapse
WICKET
24 : M.M'THARAN to B.MCCULLUM , OUT - McCullum sweeps the ball but gets a top edge and Silva takes a brilliant diving catch at Square-Leg.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Brendon McCullum is the new man in
WICKET
23.5 : M.M'THARAN to J.ORAM , OUT - Oram drives the ball straight back to Muralitharan who takes a spectacular catch on his follow through.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Muralitharan returns for another spell
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Jacob Oram is the new man in
WICKET
21.5 : T.DILSHAN to S.STYRIS , OUT - Styris attempts to chip the ball over Mid-Wicket but doesnt get the elevation and Jayawardene holds on to take a good catch.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Tillakaratne Dilshan replaces Muralitharan in the attack
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sanath Jayasuriya comes onto bowl replacing Fernando
SIX
19.4 : M.M'THARAN to S.STYRIS , Styris gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it well over Mid-on. The umpire raises his arms in the air to signal a six.
SIX
18.5 : D.FERNANDO to P.FULTON , Fulton has lofted that over mid wicket. That was six from the time it left the bat of the batsman. Up go the arms of the umpire.
HIGHLIGHT
Fulton and Styris bring up their fifty partnership in just 51 balls
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Dilhara Fernando is back in the attack
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Muttiah Muralitharan is introduced into the attack
HIGHLIGHT
Scott Styris is caught of a No Ball from Malinga
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Lasith Malinga returns to the attack
POWER PLAY
Umpire Koertzen signals the Third Powerplay for Overs 16-20
SIX
15.2 : D.FERNANDO to S.STYRIS , It's been lofted well over Mid-on by Styris. That was six from the time it left the bat of the batsman. Up go the arms of the umpire.
DRINKS
Drinks break is taken after 15 overs. New Zealand are struggling in their chase and are 53/2 having lost Fleming and Taylor
2WD
14.3 : C.VAAS to S.STYRIS , The ball is way wide on the leg side but Styris still goes after it. Umpire Taufel signals a wide. The batsmen have run through for a single.
FOUR
14.3 : C.VAAS to S.STYRIS , Styris plays the pull-shot over Mid-Wicket. The ball has crossed the ropes. Umpire Taufel signals four runs.
FOUR
11.2 : D.FERNANDO to S.STYRIS , Delicate glance by Styris through the fine leg region. The ball beats the fielder at Short Fine Leg and crosses the ropes. Umpire Koertzen signals four runs.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Scott Styris is the new man in
WICKET
10.3 : C.VAAS to R.TAYLOR , OUT - Taylor goes for a big swing but misses and the ball raps him on the pads. Umpire Taufel raises the dreaded finger.
POWER PLAY
Sri Lanka have taken their Second Powerplay for Overs 11-15
GENERAL
A second warning is issued to Fernando for running on the pitch. Another warning and he will stopped from bowling for the rest of the innings
GENERAL
Umpire Koertzen issues an official warning to Dilhara Fernando for running on the pitch. Fernando replaced Malinga in the attack.
FOUR
9.1 : D.FERNANDO to P.FULTON , Sweetly driven through the leg side by Fulton. The ball has crossed the ropes. Umpire Koertzen signals four runs.
FOUR
8.2 : C.VAAS to R.TAYLOR , Taylor has played the square drive with textbook perfection. The ball races to the boundary. Umpire Taufel signals a boundary.
4B
3.3 : L.MALINGA to P.FULTON , Fulton is beaten by the rising delivery and so is the keeper. The Umpire indicates that it was Four Byes.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Ross Taylor is the new man at the crease
WICKET
1.3 : L.MALINGA to S.FLEMING , OUT - Express delivery from Malinga jags back sharply and strikes the pads of Fleming. Umpire Koertzen slowly raises the finger.
GENERAL
Lasith Malinga to partner Vaas in the bowling attack
GENERAL
Chaminda Vaas to start proceedings from the Blue Mountain End
GENERAL
Peter Fulton and Stephen Fleming to open the batting for New Zealand
GENERAL
New Zealand require 290 runs to win from 50 overs