Sri Lanka's road to the final

Apr 01, 2011

Sri Lanka began their World Cup campaign <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433560.html " target="_blank">against Canada</a> and Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored 92 and 100 to set up a total of 332 for 7. Canada were bowled out for 122.

Sri Lanka began their World Cup campaign against Canada and Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored 92 and 100 to set up a total of 332 for 7. Canada were bowled out for 122.•AFP

Lasith Malinga made his first appearance of the tournament <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433571.html" target="_blank">against Kenya</a> and unleashed searing yorkers, one of which bowled Peter Ongondo. He claimed a hat-trick in his haul of 6 for 38 and Kenya were bowled out for 142. Sri Lanka reached their target in 18.4 overs.

Lasith Malinga made his first appearance of the tournament against Kenya and unleashed searing yorkers, one of which bowled Peter Ongondo. He claimed a hat-trick in his haul of 6 for 38 and Kenya were bowled out for 142. Sri Lanka reached their target in 18.4 overs.•AFP

Muttiah Muralitharan ripped out <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433594.html" target="_blank">New Zealand's middle-order</a> to secure a 112-run victory that helped Sri Lanka finish second in Group A. Murali took 4 for 35 but an injured knee sustained during the game was the start of his fitness problems.

Muttiah Muralitharan ripped out New Zealand's middle-order to secure a 112-run victory that helped Sri Lanka finish second in Group A. Murali took 4 for 35 but an injured knee sustained during the game was the start of his fitness problems.•AFP

Chasing 277 for victory <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433567.html" target="_blank">against Pakistan</a>, Sri Lanka stumbled against red-hot Shahid Afridi. He took 4 for 34 as the hosts slipped to a 11-run defeat.

Chasing 277 for victory against Pakistan, Sri Lanka stumbled against red-hot Shahid Afridi. He took 4 for 34 as the hosts slipped to a 11-run defeat.•AFP

Their next match began with a confrontation between Tillakaratne Dilshan and <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433577.html" target="_blank">the Australians</a>. Dilshan was dismissed cheaply but Sangakkara scored 73 on a difficult pitch before rain ruined the game.

Their next match began with a confrontation between Tillakaratne Dilshan and the Australians. Dilshan was dismissed cheaply but Sangakkara scored 73 on a difficult pitch before rain ruined the game.•Getty Images

<a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433603.html " target="_blank">England</a> set Sri Lanka a target of 230 in the quarter-final. The chase under the Premadasa's lights could have been tricky. It wasn't. Upul Tharanga and Dilshan scored centuries in a ten-wicket victory achieved in the 40th over.

England set Sri Lanka a target of 230 in the quarter-final. The chase under the Premadasa's lights could have been tricky. It wasn't. Upul Tharanga and Dilshan scored centuries in a ten-wicket victory achieved in the 40th over.•AFP

Dilshan's match. He scored a hundred <a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433583.html" target="_blank">against Zimbabwe</a> to lead Sri Lanka to 327 for 6, and then took 4 for 4 in a 139-run victory. He was on a hat-trick after Jayawardene took this blinder at slip.

Dilshan's match. He scored a hundred against Zimbabwe to lead Sri Lanka to 327 for 6, and then took 4 for 4 in a 139-run victory. He was on a hat-trick after Jayawardene took this blinder at slip.•AFP

<a href="/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433604.html " target="_blank">New Zealand</a> set Sri Lanka a smaller target in the semi-final - 218 - but the chase wasn't simple. Sri Lanka collapsed from 160 for 1 to 185 for 5 and it was left to the untested middle order to see them through to the final. Thilan Samaraweera and the injured Angelo Mathews, who had Jayawardene as a runner, finished the job.

New Zealand set Sri Lanka a smaller target in the semi-final - 218 - but the chase wasn't simple. Sri Lanka collapsed from 160 for 1 to 185 for 5 and it was left to the untested middle order to see them through to the final. Thilan Samaraweera and the injured Angelo Mathews, who had Jayawardene as a runner, finished the job.•AFP