We did it for Murali, says Sangakkara

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara(R) dedicated Tuesday’s five-wicket World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand to spinner Muttiah Muralitharan(L) who played his last home diversion prior to retirement.
©AFP – Ishara S.Kodikara

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara dedicated Tuesday’s five-wicket World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand to Muttiah Muralitharan who played his last home diversion prior to retirement.

Sangakkara pronounced which when his group suffered a worrying stagger by losing 4 discerning wickets chasing 218 to win, it was a suspicion of a 38-year-old personification in Saturday’s last which gathering them on.

“It was a last diversion for Murali in Sri Lanka as well as you unequivocally longed for to give him a good send-off,” pronounced Sangakkara of a off-spinner who will retire after a tournament.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) as well as Sangakkara (54) set a substructure during a packaged R. Premadasa track for a win which gave Sri Lanka, a 1996 champions, a place in a Mumbai last opposite possibly India or Pakistan.

Muralitharan, who played in a 1996 team, took his 534th wicket off his last round upon home dirt as New Zealand were bowled out for a below-par measure of 217 in 48.5 overs.

Sri Lanka, cruising along during 160-1 in reply, mislaid 4 wickets in a space of twenty-five runs to lift fears of an doubtful better prior to Thilan Samaraweera (23 not out) as well as Angelo Mathews (14 not out) guided them home.

“Murali is a idol of Sri Lanka, upon a field, off a field, a illusory tellurian being as well as a good group man,” combined man-of-the-match Sangakkara.

But he added: “We haven’t won anything yet, you have only reached a final.”

For New Zealand, who had repelled South Africa in a quarter-finals, there was a beating of carrying mislaid a sixth World Cup semi-final.

“We set up a good start, though you mislaid as well most wickets during a end,” pronounced captain Daniel Vettori who sealed off as ODI captain upon Tuesday.

“The tip sequence unequivocally set it up though you longed for out by not capitalising upon that. you consider that’s where you mislaid a game.

“We have been an superb fielding side all tournament, you fought difficult though it wasn’t sufficient today. Sri Lanka have been starting to be a difficult side in a final, quite with their bowling unit.”