The cameo may have been entertaining, but the batting performance that preceded it could not have been for Sri Lankan fans, and India register a big win here at Jo'burg, crushing Sri Lanka by 183 runs India were on course to the semi-finals in any case, but this win definitely puts them there, even as Sri Lanka go down to their second defeat in a row in the Super Six. They must now pull off a win against Zimbabwe if they are to see the semi-finals, whereas India just continue to impress, looking strong contenders for the title India's batsmen registered a strong show with the bat first, and then their bowlers bundled out Sri Lanka for just 109 Sri Lanka's batting could only last 23 overs against Zaheer, Srinath and Nehra The Sri Lankans must really pick themselves up from hereon in if they are to make it to the knockout stage and progress any further past that. Sanath Jayasuriya may regret his decision at the toss, but he must

now move his team past the two Super Six losses Javagal Srinath has been named Man of the Match for his haul of four wickets for 35 runs.

Join us tomorrow for CricInfo's live coverage of the Australia-New Zealand Super Six match, starting at 1000 local and 1330 IST. Till then, goodbye.

22.6

Nehra to Murali, OUT

and Murali swings wildly once too often, trying to chance his arm on the short ball with the pull, getting a top edge that plops easily into the hands of Kaif at covers, ending an entertaining cameo from Murali

Muthiah Muralidaran c Kaif b Nehra 16 (14b 3x4 0x6 19m) SR: 114.28

22.5

Nehra to Murali, FOUR runs

full and on the stumps, and Murali swings away and gets a thin outside edge that runs away to fine leg, to the ropes for four. Nehra continues to smile, but he can't be too happy about this inside

22.4

•

Nehra to Murali, no run

tonked awkwardly into the legside, Murali refusing the single again!

22.3

Nehra to Murali, FOUR runs

this is bizarre stuff! short ball on leg stump, and Murali pulls the ball away nicely enough, sending it bouncing just a few times before rolling over the midwicket fence

22.2

•

Nehra to Murali, no run

better line, closer to the batsman's body, and Murali has a heave at that one and misses again

22.1

•

Nehra to Murali, no run

Nehra now angling the ball wide of the batsman, even as Murali has shifted to outside leg stump and invites the bowler to aim at the stumps

Over22

4 runs

SL 101/9CRR: 4.59 RRR: 6.85

M Muralidaran 8 (8b 1x4)CRD Fernando 13 (10b 2x4)

J Srinath4/35 (9)

21.6

Srinath to Murali, 1 run

even as Srinath is running up, Murali executes a more obscure version of the tango in his crease before simply smacking Srinath back over his head for a single to long off. This is good stuff from Murali!

21.5

Srinath to Fernando, 1 run

drifting to leg, and Fernando works it away to midwicket, the 100 coming up for Sri Lanka with that shot

21.4

•

Srinath to Fernando, no run

slower ball outside the off, and Fernando cuts into the offside, it is fielded well but Srinath is not behind the stumps to run out a Murali already halfway down the pitch

21.3

Srinath to Murali, 1 bye

moving to leg, Murali sees Srinath following him and tries the forcing stroke through the leg and misses the ball but runs the bye

21.3

Srinath to Murali, 1 wide

sloppy bowling this, Murali backing to leg with every ball and Srinath still bowling wide outside the off stump!

21.2

•

Srinath to Murali, no run

pushed into the covers, and Murali refuses the run, no doubt shielding the batsman at the other end!

21.1

•

Srinath to Murali, no run

Murali backs to leg again, almost having a word with the square leg umpire, and the bowler in response bowls a slow ball outside the off

Over21

8 runs

SL 97/9CRR: 4.61 RRR: 6.75

M Muralidaran 7 (4b 1x4)CRD Fernando 12 (8b 2x4)

A Nehra3/27 (6)

20.6

Nehra to Murali, 1 run

more entertainment as Murali backs to leg and slashes away to third man, on the first bounce!

20.5

Nehra to Murali, 2 runs

another attempted pull, and this one takes the edge but falls in the long off region, so two more to the total, equalling Sri Lanka's lowest total ever

20.4

Nehra to Murali, FOUR runs

short ball, and Murali flashes into a pull that makes Nehra smile too, the ball skying over the keeper to the fence for four

20.3

•

Nehra to Murali, no run

moving to leg, Murali tries to cut it away in the offside, and finally jams down on the ball just in time. Nehra invites him to have another go after that ball!

20.2

Nehra to Fernando, 1 run

short of a length, and Fernando pushes into the offside and gets a single

20.1

•

Nehra to Fernando, no run

short and wide, and Fernando tries to cut it away and mistimes, chopping it into the ground

Over20

11 runs

SL 89/9CRR: 4.45 RRR: 6.80

CRD Fernando 11 (6b 2x4)M Muralidaran 0 (0b)

J Srinath4/32 (8)

19.6

Srinath to Fernando, 3 runs

full toss on the leg stump, and Fernando smashes this one into the midwicket region for three.Fernando having a bit of a slog here to pep things up towards the end

Read full commentary

Match details

GroundNew Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

TossSri Lanka, elected to field first

Series

ICC World Cup

Sri Lanka tour of South Africa

Season2002/03

Player Of The Match

Javagal Srinath

Match numberODI no. 1985

Match daysday (50-over match)