The Sri Lankans thumped New
Zealand by 112 runs in their last group match as the Kiwi batsmen found the Sri
Lankan spinners too hot to handle and were shot out for 153 inside 35 overs.
Seven wickets went to the
spinners on that occasion with the wily Muttiah Muralitharan bagging four.
Conditions will be similar on
the low and slow pitch at the Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday and the Sri Lankan
bowlers will once again look to prosper as they bid to reach a third World Cup
final.
In Lasith Malinga,
Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis the 1996 champions have probably the best and
most varied bowling attack in the tournament.
"We kind of understand
that they find the variation in our bowling attack a bit troublesome," Sri
Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said after the win against the Kiwis in Mumbai.
"So we try and maximize
on that fact but at the same time we try and make sure that we put good totals
on the board. I think they find Lasith Malinga, Murali and Mendis quite
difficult."
Muralitharan, 38, who will
retire from international cricket after the tournament, left the field early in
the World Cup quarter-final win over England on Saturday but he is expected to be
fit for Tuesday's semi-final.
While the focus has been on
the bowlers, the Sri Lankan top-order batting of Tillakaratne Dilshan,
Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga have silently gone about their job.
The three batsmen currently
feature at the second, fourth and fifth positions respectively in the
tournament's highest run-getters' list. Openers Dilshan and Tharanga have
already combined in two double century partnerships and the Kiwi bowlers have
to try and send them back quickly to have any hopes of reaching the lower
middle order, which is Sri Lanka's only weak link.
The Black Caps will be
motivated by their stunning upset win against South Africa in the quarter-final
and will need more of that discipline and application if they hope to stretch
the home side.
New Zealand managed to
skittle South Africa for 172 after setting them a target of 222 to win the
match but will have to bat better than that to restrict the strong Sri Lankan
batting, as England found out on Saturday in their quarterfinal.
Chasing a target of 230 for
victory, Sri Lanka romped home with all their wickets intact and 63 balls to
spare to set up the date with New Zealand.
On Tuesday the Kiwis will
make their sixth appearance in World Cup semifinals but they have never managed
to advance any further.
"We have to bat well,
that's the key for us. I think the boys are learning, you need those wickets in
hand going into the last overs and you set those targets," coach John
Wright said.
"We'll look inwards and
focus very much on trying to get better as a unit." They fielded and bowled brilliantly to send favorites South Africa
packing and Sangakkara knows it will be foolish to take New Zealand lightly.
"I think it is important
to be confident but also realistic.
It's a semifinal...It's a
one-off. Everyone has got the opportunity to do well," Sangakkara said.
"They will come here and
try to do well. They will be very hungry to get into the final and so are we.
"Everyone treats these
kinds of games as opportunities to do something that they haven't done before.
Psychological advantages and all of that come second to proper cricket and good
performances on the field."
