So Sri Lanka enter their second World Cup final (after the memorable one in 1996). New Zealand fail to cross the semi-final stage for the fifth time in World Cups but when they reflect on today they will look back at a truly outstanding knock by Mahela Jayawardene, probably the defining innings of the tournament.

Once Sri Lanka had made 289, New Zealand didn't have much of a chance, especially with the pitch taking turn and Sri Lanka posessing a varied attack. Muralitharan teased and tormented with 4 for 31 while Malinga and Vaas turned in excellent support acts. New Zealand had a chance at 100 for 2 but a collapse of sorts left them high and dry.

Andrew chimes in: "Everyone streaming to the exits already, although the Sri Lankan drummers are still going bonkers below me"

Murali: "Wicket turned a bit and Mahela played a brilliant innings so that made us win the match. When he played very slowly, I thought he's going for the big one and in the end it was one of the brilliant hundreds. I'm bowling really well, bowling from around the wicket helps me a lot. Thr right-hander can't see which way the ball is going."

Stephen Fleming: "It's disappointing but they've got some big game players and a couple of mistakes can hurt you. We thought the last ten overs was an area we were good at but that let us down. We missed McMIllan and Styris in the field, the toss might have been little but important but I still don't think it would have changed the result the way they played."

Mahela Jayawardene, the Man of the Match: "We played some good cricket and we stuck to the basics. It's a big game but it's another cricket match. We believe in our batting line-up, Sanath has been in good form and all the others have chipped in as well. I'm pretty happy with my hundred, I knew I had to stay there for long. I just wanted to make sure I batted 50 overs."

So that's it from us for the first semi-final. Thanks for joining me, Siddhartha Vaidyanathan, and Jamie Alter for the occassion. Good night and good luck.

41.4

Dilshan to Patel, OUT

And that's the end of that. Patel down the ground and cracks it towards long-on, not that well timed and there he's waiting - Dilhara Fernando, who had a forgettable game is there to finish it all over. He pouches the catch wonderfully and there's a wave of Sri Lankan elation at Sabina Park

Jeetan Patel c Fernando b Dilshan 34 (38b 2x4 1x6 33m) SR: 89.47

Samarth: "well said Thushan, lots of Indians have been dissapointed with their country's low quality performance, and they are relating the whole tournament to the country's performance.. but full marks to sri lanka.. they have kept the tournament alive. the only worthy candidates to beat australia. I hope they bat first in the finals"

41.3

Dilshan to Franklin, 1 run

41.2

Dilshan to Patel, 1 run

Pre-meditated reverse-sweep but that was on leg and he can't get the full range

41.1

•

Dilshan to Patel, no run

Over41

11 runs

NZ 206/9CRR: 5.02 RRR: 9.33

JS Patel 33 (35b 2x4 1x6)JEC Franklin 29 (37b 2x4)

ST Jayasuriya2/57 (9)

40.6

Jayasuriya to Patel, 1 run

Richard LePage is in a cheeky mood. "Fleming should have made Patel and Franklin to open the innings, we would have atleast given a respectable fight."

40.5

Jayasuriya to Patel, 2 runs

full and on middle and leg, paddled away sweetly past short fine leg for another couple.

40.4

•

Jayasuriya to Patel, no run

40.3

Jayasuriya to Patel, 2 runs

scooped over Jayasuriya's head and that is heading for the boundary as well until Malinga dives full length and stops it with his extended right foot. Champions League semi-final anyone? Fine stop and they're kept down to two

40.2

Jayasuriya to Patel, FOUR runs

flat and outside off again, Patel down the ground and slashes it over extra-cover for another four. Malinga tries to cut it off but the ball goes over the ropes

40.2

Jayasuriya to Patel, 1 wide

firing it down leg side, wide called and predictably so

40.1

Jayasuriya to Franklin, 1 run

Turned away to square for a single

Jayasuriya comes into the attack. Can he finish it off? Will he succeed where Murali, Malinga and Dilshan have failed?

Over40

12 runs

NZ 195/9CRR: 4.87 RRR: 9.50

JS Patel 24 (30b 1x4 1x6)JEC Franklin 28 (36b 2x4)

TM Dilshan1/20 (4)

39.6

•

Dilshan to Patel, no run

39.6

Dilshan to Patel, 1 wide

down the leg side, spinning away

39.5

Dilshan to Patel, SIX runs

down the ground to a flighted ball and smacked from the meat of the bat over long-on for another six. Patel is making the most of these moments here. The game might be gone but it's a World Cup semi-final stage and he's showing his worth

39.4

Dilshan to Franklin, 1 run

Thushan disagrees strongly about the quality of the tournament. "In response to Ajay Singh: "low quality? Perhaps you're forgetting the Sri Lanka vs. England thriller, the Ireland vs. Zimbabwe tie, and Malinga's 4 in 4 against South Africa. The only thing "low quality" about this World Cup has been the ICC's planning (or should I say, money-making) efforts...and perhaps...India's performance."

39.3

Dilshan to Franklin, FOUR runs

wide of leg stump, swept away efficiently for a four to fine leg.

39.2

•

Dilshan to Franklin, no run

39.1

•

Dilshan to Franklin, no run

full on middle and leg, Franklin sweeps, misses, Dilshan lets out a raucous appeal but Koertzen is not too interested. Might have gone on to hit leg stump but a close call.