Sri Lanka reached the World Cup final on Tuesday after Muttiah Muralitharan took four wickets to prompt a collapse by New Zealand and earn an 81-run victory for his country.
New Zealand were on course to challenge Sri Lanka’s 289-5 wickets in the semifinal at Sabina Park, but lost seven key wickets for 44 runs to slump from 105-2 to 149-9.
James Franklin and Jeetan Patel shared a last-wicket stand of 59 to salvage some respectability. But Tillekeratne Dilshan wrapped up the match with more than eight overs to spare when he had Patel caught by Dilhara Fernando for 34.
New Zealand were 208 all out and have now lost five semifinals without ever making a final.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 winners, will play Saturday’s final against South Africa or two-time defending champions Australia, who contest their semifinal in St. Lucia on Wednesday.
After captain Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 115 helped Sri Lanka set New Zealand a tough target of 290 to win in Jamaica, his bowlers stifled the batsmen early on until Scott Styris and Peter Fulton put their team back in contention.
Styris and Fulton shared a third-wicket partnership of 73 at better than a run a ball, but Styris fell for 37 and the wickets kept tumbling.
Styris, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Fulton and Daniel Vettori fell for the addition of only 11 runs to put Sri Lanka firmly in control.
Pace bowler Lasith Malinga returned after missing three games with a left ankle ligament injury and dismissed New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming with his third delivery, leg-before-wicket to a ball that was set to just clip the top of off stump.
Malinga marked his return to the team with an opening spell of one wicket for five runs off four overs, including two maidens.
Ross Taylor was out lbw for nine playing across the line to Chaminda Vaas and New Zealand took 90 balls to reach 50-2. However, the next 50 came from just 32 as the Black Caps seemed to get back into the game.
Styris had a let off on 17 when he was caught at mid-on by Muralitharan off Malinga, but the bowler had no-balled for overstepping.
Styris was eventually out for 37, hitting Dilshan to Jayawardene, spelling the beginning of the end for New Zealand. — Sapa-AP