Introduction: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Cricket fans still remember the 2011 World Cup semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, held on March 29, 2011, in Colombo, as one of those games where class and composure came out on top. With a ticket to the final on the line, this was more than just a match—it was a high-pressure test of nerves, talent, and strategy.
Table of Contents
The Big Semi-Final: Setting the Stage
New Zealand came into this clash flying high after upsetting South Africa in the quarter-finals, while Sri Lanka, playing at home, carried the weight of expectations and a strong track record. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first—perhaps hoping to put scoreboard pressure on the hosts.
But the Sri Lankan bowlers had other plans.
New Zealand’s Innings – A Start With Hope, An End With Struggles
Batting first on a pitch that wasn’t too tricky, New Zealand never really got going. A few batters chipped in, but none managed to push on long enough to take charge.
New Zealand – 217 All Out (48.5 overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Guptill | b Malinga | 39 | 65 | 3 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Brendon McCullum † | b Herath | 13 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 61.90 |
| Jesse Ryder | c Sangakkara b Muralitharan | 19 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 55.88 |
| Ross Taylor | c Tharanga b Mendis | 36 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 65.45 |
| Scott Styris | lbw b Muralitharan | 57 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 74.03 |
| Kane Williamson | lbw b Malinga | 22 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 137.50 |
| Nathan McCullum | c Sangakkara b Malinga | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Jacob Oram | c Jayawardene b Dilshan | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Daniel Vettori * | not out | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Tim Southee | c Sangakkara b Mendis | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Andrew McKay | b Mendis | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Extras: 12 (lb 5, w 6, nb 1)
Total: 217 all out in 48.5 overs
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | 9 | 55 | 3 | 6.11 |
| Rangana Herath | 9 | 31 | 1 | 3.44 |
| Angelo Mathews | 6 | 27 | 0 | 4.50 |
| Ajantha Mendis | 9.5 | 35 | 3 | 3.56 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 10 | 42 | 2 | 4.20 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 5 | 22 | 1 | 4.40 |
Muralitharan and Mendis spun a web around the middle order, and Malinga took care of the rest with his deadly yorkers. It was a complete bowling performance.
Sri Lanka’s Innings – Calm and Confident Chase
With 218 runs to win and the home crowd behind them, Sri Lanka began the chase confidently. Dilshan and Sangakkara anchored the innings, and despite a few hiccups, they reached the target without much fuss.
Sri Lanka – 220/5 (47.5 overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upul Tharanga | c Ryder b Southee | 30 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 96.77 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | c Ryder b Southee | 73 | 93 | 10 | 1 | 78.49 |
| Kumar Sangakkara † * | c Styris b McKay | 54 | 79 | 7 | 1 | 68.35 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | lbw b Vettori | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Thilan Samaraweera | not out | 23 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 60.53 |
| Chamara Silva | b Southee | 13 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 52.00 |
| Angelo Mathews | not out | 14 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 77.78 |
Extras: 12 (lb 2, w 10)
Total: 220/5 in 47.5 overs
New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Southee | 10 | 57 | 3 | 5.70 |
| Daniel Vettori | 10 | 36 | 1 | 3.60 |
| Andrew McKay | 9.5 | 37 | 1 | 3.76 |
| Nathan McCullum | 6 | 33 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Jacob Oram | 8 | 29 | 0 | 3.63 |
| Scott Styris | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Jesse Ryder | 2 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
Match Awards & Notable Stats
Player of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
With 54 runs and 3 important catches, Sangakkara played a perfect captain’s game—calm under pressure and reliable when it counted most.
Highest Run Scorer: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Dilshan’s fluent 73 off 93 balls set the tone for the chase and gave Sri Lanka the momentum they needed early on.
Top Wicket Takers:
- Ajantha Mendis – 3/35
- Lasith Malinga – 3/55
- Tim Southee – 3/57
Most Sixes in the Match:
| Player | Team | Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 1 |
| Nathan McCullum | New Zealand | 1 |
| Upul Tharanga | Sri Lanka | 1 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 1 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 1 |
| Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 1 |
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka:
Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara (c & wk), Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Silva, Mathews, Malinga, Herath, Mendis, Muralitharan
New Zealand:
Guptill, B. McCullum (wk), Ryder, Taylor, Styris, Williamson, N. McCullum, Oram, Vettori (c), Southee, McKay
Match Summary
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Date: March 29, 2011
- Toss: New Zealand won, chose to bat
- Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets
- Player of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara
- Umpires: Aleem Dar, Steve Davis
- TV Umpire: Marais Erasmus
- Reserve Umpire: Billy Doctrove
- Match Referee: Chris Broad
In the end, it was Sri Lanka’s mix of smart bowling and steady batting that guided them past New Zealand into the World Cup final. The Kiwis fought hard, but the Sri Lankan lions roared louder under pressure.