Introduction: sri lanka national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team match scorecard
On March 29, 2011, the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo hosted a high-stakes encounter as Sri Lanka faced New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup. It was a pressure-packed evening for both sides, but the home team held their nerve and marched into the final with a 5-wicket win.
Let’s take a closer look at how this crucial match played out.
Table of Contents
Toss and First Innings: New Zealand Bat First
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bat first. It was a cautious approach early on, as Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling kept the Kiwi batters in check.
Key contributions came from:
- Martin Guptill – 39 (65 balls)
- Ross Taylor – 36 (55 balls)
- Scott Styris – A gritty 57 from 77 balls
Despite a few handy partnerships, wickets fell at regular intervals. The Sri Lankan bowlers shared the spoils, with Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, and Muttiah Muralitharan all striking crucial blows. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 217 runs in 48.5 overs.
New Zealand Batting Highlights
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Guptill | b Malinga | 39 | 65 | 3 | 0 |
| Ross Taylor | c Tharanga b Mendis | 36 | 55 | 1 | 0 |
| Scott Styris | lbw b Muralidaran | 57 | 77 | 5 | 0 |
| Kane Williamson | lbw b Malinga | 22 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
Total: 217 all out (48.5 overs)
Extras: 12 (lb 5, nb 1, w 6)
Sri Lanka Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | 9 | 55 | 3 |
| Ajantha Mendis | 9.5 | 35 | 3 |
| Muttiah Muralidaran | 10 | 42 | 2 |
| Rangana Herath | 9 | 31 | 1 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 5 | 22 | 1 |
Sri Lanka’s Run Chase: Calm, Composed, and Clinical
Chasing a target of 218, Sri Lanka never looked in trouble. Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga got off to a brisk start, setting a solid foundation. Dilshan’s fluent 73 off 93 balls led the way, while Sangakkara played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings with 54 runs.
Despite a couple of minor hiccups in the middle, the hosts stayed in control and crossed the line with 13 balls to spare, finishing at 220 for 5 in 47.5 overs.
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upul Tharanga | c Ryder b Southee | 30 | 31 | 4 | 1 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | c Ryder b Southee | 73 | 93 | 10 | 1 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | c Styris b McKay | 54 | 79 | 7 | 1 |
| Thilan Samaraweera | not out | 23 | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| Angelo Mathews | not out | 14 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
Total: 220/5 (47.5 overs)
Extras: 12 (lb 2, w 10)
New Zealand Bowling Summary
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Southee | 10 | 57 | 3 |
| Andy McKay | 9.5 | 37 | 1 |
| Daniel Vettori | 10 | 36 | 1 |
Player of the Match – Kumar Sangakkara
It was Kumar Sangakkara’s calm and composed innings that stood out. His 54-run knock under pressure, along with three catches behind the stumps, earned him the Player of the Match award. It was a classic captain’s effort—steady, responsible, and full of class.
Top Performers
Most Runs
- Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) – 73 (93 balls)
Most Wickets
- Lasith Malinga (SL) – 3/55
- Ajantha Mendis (SL) – 3/35
- Tim Southee (NZ) – 3/57
Most Sixes
Only six sixes were hit in the entire game – and each player hit just one:
- Brendon McCullum (NZ)
- Nathan McCullum (NZ)
- Upul Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Mathews (All SL)
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka:
Kumar Sangakkara (C & WK), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralidaran.
New Zealand:
Daniel Vettori (C), Brendon McCullum (WK), Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Kane Williamson, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Andy McKay.
Final Thoughts
This semi-final had everything—tension, quality bowling, clever batting, and a home crowd roaring behind their team. Sri Lanka’s experienced core, especially Sangakkara and Dilshan, came through when it mattered the most. With this win, they marched confidently into the final of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, chasing a dream that had eluded them since 1996.
