World Twenty20, Highlights: Sri Lanka crush New Zealand by 59 runs to reach semis

Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by 59 runs to reach the semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament. Catch highlights here: (Match scorecard | Commentary | Points table |Innings report)

 

22:19 (IST): A great bowling effort from Rangana Herath (5/3) has taken Sri Lanka into the semis of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament. Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga said that it was an honour for him to captain a Sri Lankan side including former captains Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. He said he was happy to win. Man of the Match Rangana Herath was humble in saying that he just stuck to his basics and the captain didn't want anything special from him. New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said that all the credit went to Sri Lanka for the way they bowled and the fact that Corey Anderson could not bat due to a dislocated finger, did not add any pressure to them whatsoever. He also said Sri Lanka were deservedly the winners. Sri Lanka now face the winners of Tuesday's game between the West Indies and Pakistan in the first semifinal on April 3.

22:07 (IST): Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 59 runs in low-scoring encounter to reach semis. Kane Williamson 42; Rangana Herath 5/3.

 

21:54 (IST): OUT! Kane Williamson run out Mathews 42. New Zealand 60/8 (15.1 overs). Herath currently finishing his incredible spell.

 

21:46 (IST): OUT! Kyle Mills lbw b Senanayake 4. New Zealand 51/7 (13.3 overs). Looks all Sri Lanka from here now. A job well done by their bowlers!

 

21:29 (IST): OUT! Nathan McCullum c Angelo Mathews b Sachitra Senanayake 2. New Zealand 33/6 (9.3 overs). Sri Lanka have completely turned things around for themselves today after posting a dismal first innings score of 119 all out.

21:20 (IST): OUT! Luke Ronchi lbw b Herath 2. New Zealand 29/5 (7.3 overs). Rangana Herath is making things extremely difficult for New Zealand.

 

21:12 (IST): OUT! Jimmy Neesham b Herath 0. Foxed him completely! New Zealand 23/4 (6 overs). Rangana Herath's figures read 2 overs, 2 maidens, 3 wickets. Incredible!

21:11 (IST): OUT! Ross Taylor lbw b Herath 0. New Zealand 23/3 (5.5 overs). This is turning into an exciting T20 contest now.

 

21:02 (IST): OUT! Brendon McCullum st Sangakkara b Herath 0. New Zealand 18/2 (4 overs).

 

21:01 (IST): OUT! A mix-up leads to a run out. Martin Guptill run out 5. New Zealand 18/1 (3.1 overs).

21:00 (IST): Can Rangana Herath script a victory for Sri Lanka? NZ 18/0 after 3 overs chasing 120 vs Sri Lanka.

 

20:59 (IST): Kane Williamson hits Nuwan Kulasekara for a boundary! NZ race to 18/0 after 2.4 overs.

 

20:56 (IST): Sri Lanka don't have many runs to defend (119). They need to be careful while bowling. NZ race to 12/0 after 2 overs chasing 120.

 

20:33 (IST): Sri Lanka bowled out for 119 in 19.2 overs vs New Zealand. Jayawardene 25; Boult 3/20, Neesham 3/22.

 

20:30 (IST): OUT! Sachitra Senanayake c Williamson b Neesham 17. Sri Lanka 119/9 (19.1 overs).

 

20:25 (IST): OUT! Another one bites the dust! Thisara Perera c Kane Williamson b Kyle Mills 16. Sri Lanka 116/8 (18.2 overs).

 

20:12 (IST): OUT! Nuwan Kulasekara c Nathan McCullum b Mitchell McClenaghan 0. Sri Lanka 92/7 (15.4 overs). Indescribable! Nobody expected this from Sri Lanka today. They could be in the semifinal had they batted carefully!

 

20:08 (IST): OUT! Mahela Jayawardene b Nathan McCullum 25. Sri Lanka 85/6 (15 overs). This is turning into a nightmare for Sri Lanka today!

 

20:04 (IST): OUT! Angelo Mathews c Ronchi b McClenaghan 6. Sri Lanka 81/5 (13.5 overs) vs New Zealand. Oh dear, Sri Lanka may have to settle for a score less than 140 here in this crucial game.

19:53 (IST): OUT! Lahiru Thirimanne c Guptill b Neesham 20. Sri Lanka 65/4 (11.1 overs) vs New Zealand. The Kiwis have all the momentum in this match as of now.

 

19:50 (IST): Sri Lanka 55/3 (10 overs) at the halfway stage. Mahela Jayawardene (11*), Lahiru Thirimanne (12*).

 

19:39 (IST): Take a bow, Trent Boult! He finishes up with figures of 3/20. Great in a crunch game like this one! Sri Lanka 48/3 (8 overs).

 

19:30 (IST): OUT! Kumar Sangakkara c Corey Anderson b Trent Boult 4. Sri Lanka 35/3 (6 overs) at end of powerplay. This could be the last T20I game for both Sangakkara and Jayawardene if Sri Lanka happen to lose today.

 

19:19 (IST): OUT! Tillakaratne Dilshan c Ronchi b Boult 8. Sri Lanka 29/2 (3.3 overs). He was trying to be too fancy there with a Dil Scoop once again. Didn't work! Dilshan has to go too after Kusal Perera.

19:18 (IST): Dilshan keeps the scoring rate going despite Kusal's dismissal! Dil scoop for a four! Sri Lanka 24/1 (2.1 overs).

 

19:11 (IST): OUT! Kusal Perera c Luke Ronchi b Trent Boult 16. Sri Lanka 20/1 (1.5 overs). Not sure if Perera had edged that to the wicketkeeper of a possibly wide delivery on the leg side. He was shaking his head as he walked back.

 

19:10 (IST): And the fifth ball of the 1st over goes for maximum! 6 runs! Kusal Perera on fire. SL 12/0 (0.5 overs).

19:09 (IST): 3rd ball, boundary! Kusal Perera makes his intentions clear in the 1st over itself! SL 6/0 (0.4 overs).

 

Playing XIs

New Zealand

Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Trent Boult, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan

Sri Lanka

Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachitra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga

 

18:34 (IST): New Zealand win toss and elect to bowl first vs Sri Lanka at Chittagong. Lasith Malinga will lead the Sri Lankan side in absence of Dinesh Chandimal, who is serving a one-game ban. Rangana Herath comes in place of Ajantha Mendis for Sri Lanka. Brendon McCullum says that his team have performed 'okay' so far and will be tested today against Sri Lanka. Malinga said that it was a good feeling to lead the Sri Lankan side and that he is looking forward to it.

 

Preview: Kiwis and Lankans fight for semis spot

A semifinal spot at stake, Sri Lanka and New Zealand take on each other in a virtual knock-out match of the ICC World Twenty20 here on Monday.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are on four points each from three games and the winner of Monday's Super 10 match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will decide which side will join South Africa in the semi-finals from Group 1.

South Africa have finished their Super 10 engagements and have qualified for the semifinals with six points from four matches.

Sri Lanka came into the World Twenty20 high on confidence after winning the Asia Cup and then they recorded two consecutive wins comfortably -- against South Africa and minnows the Netherlands.

The win against the Netherlands was the shortest successful run chase ever in Twenty20 Internationals, having completed in just five overs after the Dutch scored just 39.

Sri Lanka, however, lost their next match against England by six wickets in a high-scoring match here with their bowlers failing to stop Alex Hales from scoring 116 from just 64 balls.

The Lankans would look to return to winnings ways against New Zealand tomorrow and book a semifinal berth but they will have to come up with an improved bowling show.

All the Lankan bowlers were expensive in their loss against England and they cannot afford to do so against a New Zealand side which have the likes of captain Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson.

New Zealand won one (against England under D/L method in a rain-shortened match) and lost one tight match (against South Africa) and then thrashed minnows the Netherlands and they would be looking to seal a semi-final spot against Sri Lanka on Monday. (Read more)