New Zealand suffered a spectacular collapse as Sri Lanka qualified for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.
The final eight batsmen in The Black Caps’ batting line-up all failed to reach double figures as Sri Lanka triumphed by 48 runs.
In a winner-takes-all contest, Sri Lanka started awfully after winning the toss at Trent Bridge, losing Sanath Jayasuriya for a duck in the first over after the veteran top-edged a sweep.
However, from there they slowly fought their way back into the contest, amassing a very respectable 158-5 from their 20 overs, thanks largely to Tillakaratne Dilshan (48), Kumar Sangakarra (35) and Mahela Jayawardene (41no).
Dilshan was the key anchor at the top of the innings, going within two runs of a fine half century before falling to Daniel Vettori.
Jayawardene supplied the pace with 41 off 29 balls, showing little respect to the New Zealand bowlers, for whom Nathan McCullum (4-22) and Jacob Oram (4-23) were most economical.
New Zealand’s reply started superbly, Aaron Redmond leading the pyrotechnics in the second over, smashing three fours and a six off Jayasuriya, who went for 20.
However, key man Brendan McCullum (10) went early, finding Mubarek at cover off the bowling off Udana, while Redmond would only reach 23 before splaying Lasith Malinga to midwicket.
The returning Ross Taylor also failed as Sangakarra whipped off his bails for 8, and Scott Styris walked in the same over as Ajantha Mendis swung the match firmly in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Jacob Oram failed with the bat again as Udana bowled his middle stump, and that left Martin Guptill (43) with too much to do as he frustratingly got out sweeping to backward square leg after only taking two runs off the first three balls of an over.
With Guptill went any lingering New Zealand hopes as they collapsed to 100 all out, so it will be Sri Lanka who continue into the last four to face West Indies.
In the day's other match, South Africa won the Group E dead rubber against India by 21 runs.
AB De Villiers did the damage for The Proteas, smashing 63 from 51 balls to set a total of 130.
In reply India started well with openers Gambhir (21) and Sharma (29) both making starts, but the bowling of Johan Botha (3-16) made the difference as they slumped to 109 from their 20 overs.