Sri Lanka Goes Down

Sri Lanka Goes Down
Silva falls to set up thrilling finish

Sri Lanka v New Zealand, World Cup 2011, semi-final, Colombo

Sangakkara and Dilshan put Sri Lanka on course

Jesse Ryder pulled off an outstanding one-handed catch at point to dismiss Upul Tharanga, as New Zealand defended their mediocre total of 217 with customary tenacity in the first semi-final in Colombo. However, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara responded with an unhurried stand of 70 in 18 overs, to manoeuvre their team into a formidable position of 116 for 1 at the halfway mark of the chase.

For the second match running at the Premadasa Stadium, there was a certain sense of inevitability to the proceedings - certainly so far as the packed and jubilant home crowd were concerned - and when Tharanga launched their run-chase by advancing down the track to club his third ball, from Nathan McCullum, straight down the ground for six, Sri Lanka were always ahead of the asking-rate.

Nevertheless, Tharanga's departure for 30 from 31 balls changed the tempo of the Sri Lankan innings, not least because the manner of his dismissal was sensational. Up until that point he had smoked four fours in addition to that six, as he continued his form where he had left off with his century against England, and he was sizing up his fifth four when he climbed into a wide one from Tim Southee and smacked a cut to Ryder's left at point.

Ryder is not the most nimble athlete at this tournament, but he saw the shot straight off the bat, flung himself horizontally to cling on his outstretched left hand, and celebrated with a fling of the arms reminiscent of Andrew Flintoff in his final Ashes series. A similar moment of fielding brilliance, from Jacob Oram, had ignited the charge against South Africa last week, and at 40 for 1, New Zealand dared to dream.

Dilshan and Sangakkara had other ideas, however. Though neither man was at his most fluent, the target was such that they did not need to rush. Sangakkara had an early let-off when he edged Oram at a catchable height through the vacant slip cordon, while Dilshan - who had been so combative against England - took 28 deliveries to score the second boundary of his innings, and his 50th of the World Cup to date.

But he went on to pass 400 runs for the tournament, en route to overtaking Jonathan Trott as the leading run-scorer, and New Zealand began to run out of ideas. Sangakkara began to nail his trademark cover-drive, with one fierce blow off Oram eluding the grasp of the fielder Martin Guptill, before Dilshan swiped the same bowler over midwicket for six, shortly after bringing up the 100 in the 24th over.

48.5 overs New Zealand 217 (Styris 57, Mendis 3-35) v Sri Lanka