Sri Lanka vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 – Second innings: Sri Lanka qualify for ICC World Cup 2011 final
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 have qualified for the final of the ICC World Cup 2011 for the second consecutive time as they defeated New Zealand in the semi-final by five wickets in a tense finish.
This result has made sure that an Asian team will be crowned as the World Champion this time round and two Asian teams are going to contest the final of the World Cup for the first time ever.
Chasing a competitive total at Colombo, Sri Lanka were off to a flying start through their openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga as they played their shots at will during the first Powerplay before the latter was caught brilliantly at point by Jesse
Ryder. However Dilshan consolidated the home team’s innings along with his captain Kumar Sangakkara.
At one stage, the Sri Lankan team was cruising towards victory with just one wicket down for 160 runs before the home team faced a mini collapse as the middle order batsmen succumbed to pressure. However, Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews held their
nerves at the end to see their team home in front of a packed house.
Dilshan remained the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 73 runs which came off 93 balls with the help of 10 fours and a massive six. Sangakkara also shined with the bat as he made a solid half-century to lead his team from the front.
Tim Southee was the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps as he grabbed three crucial wickets to halt Sri Lanka’s progress. Daniel Vettori and Andy McKay claimed a victim each to support Southee but their efforts were not enough to seal their first-ever
final berth in the mega event.
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was named as the Man of the Match for his brilliant half-century under trying circumstances and three victims behind the stumps earlier in the day.
The job is still not done for the Sri Lankan team as they will now travel to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the final of the showpiece event on Saturday and would be looking to repeat their heroics of the 1996 World Cup.
Tags: