<b>Cricket:</b> SL enter finals, beat NZ by 81 runs

Sri Lanka stromed into the World Cup finals led by a timely hundred from skipper Mahela Jayawardena.

After electing to bat first, the Sri Lankans were in a spot of bother at 152 for 4 from 34.3 overs, however, steep accelaration towards the end from their skipper saw them finish with a formidable 289 for 5 from 50 overs.

Man of the Match Jayawardena was unbeaten on 115 runs off 109 balls. Opener Upul Tharange scored 73 runs.

New Zealand, who had lost their previous four semi-finals, began on a shaky note and were 2 down for just 32 in 10.3 overs. Some big hitting by Scott Styris saw them reach 105, before Styris fell for 37 runs.

Then came the big crash, as New Zealand lost 5 wickets for just 11 runs in a matter of four overs to the spin of Jayasuriya and Murlitharan. The Kiwis just could not recover, and apart from a 59-run 10th wicket stand there was no fight from the Kiwis.

The New Zealanders were finally all out for 208 runs from 41.4 overs. Thus the Lankan lions won by 81 runs.

For Sri Lanka, Muttiah Murlitharan finished with 4 wickets for 31 runs from 8 overs. Dilshan picked 2 wickets.