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Everything went right for Sri Lanka, as they put runs on the board, bowled efficiently and fielded perfectly to comfortably beat the Kiwis by 48 runs. The side has topped Group ‘F’ in the Super Eight to enter the semifinals of the ICC World Cup Twenty20. Pakistan is the second team to qualify from the group. The Kiwis failed to unravel the “M” magic- ‘M’urali, ‘M’alinga, ‘M’endis and ‘M’ahela. The Kiwis miserably failed to stop these for as they ran riot on the field.

New Zealand landed an early blow when Sanath Jaysuriya was caught off the third ball of the innings, offering a simple chance to Ross Taylor after top-edging a delivery from Nathan McCallum to be out for a golden duck. The decision to move Chamara Silva up the order to No. 3 then backfired when he mishit a ball from Kyle Mills straight to Jacob Oram in the fourth over.

Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership from 32 balls, until the former was caught by Brendon McCullum off Vettori in the 12th over. Jayawardene smashed Vettori into the top tier of the pavilion two overs later, and Mills went for 14 in the 16th as Sri Lanka accelerated.Sangakkara was out straight after the pair had completed its half-century stand in 37 balls, caught by Scott Styris off Vettori in the 17th over. Jehan Mubarak tried to restore the impetus, but was lbw after making 8 to Ian Butler in the 19th over.

Under pressure to win the last game, Sri Lanka, defending 158, responded well. The defining moment of the game arrived in the ninth over when New Zealand’s finest batsman, Ross Taylor, was out-thought by the young Ajantha Mendis. Taylor, bravely, took stance well outside the crease, but Mendis surprised the batsman by delivering a quicker delivery outside the off-stump and Kumar Sangakkara removed the bails.In the same over, Scott Styris, playing for the turn, was castled by one that went through straight. The Kiwis were not picking Mendis’ variations.

New Zealand was 64 for four in the ninth over and it never recovered. The big-hitting Jacob Oram was deceived by a slower one from left-arm medium-pacer Isuru Udana.Martin Guptill (43, 35, 4×4, 1×6) was impressive in the manner he hit Lasith Malinga over his head and drove the paceman down the ground. However, the right-hander departed as things hotted up, miscuing a sweep off Sanath Jayasuriya.

Muttiah Muralitharan bowled with immaculate control giving away little and there was no escape route for New Zealand.Upfront, Aaron Redmond fired New Zealand to a terrific start smashing Jayasuriya’s left-arm spin for three fours and a six over long-off in the second over. Redmond (23 off 13) succumbed to Malinga’s slower ball. The slinger worked up pace, swung the sphere and employed the short ball judiciously. Udana also struck a massive blow upfront for Lanka when Brendon McCullum attempted to swing him from out-side off and mistimed to mid-wicket.

And with the Lankans possibly facing the Windies and the Pakistan facing S.A this tournament seems to be heating up.