Sri Lanka v New Zealand Team News – Cricket World Cup 2011 Semi Final – Live Coverage Details
The first World Cup Semi Final takes place this morning, Sri Lanka play New Zealand in front of their home fans in Colombo.
Sri Lanka go into the game as heavy favourites after they beat the New Zealanders by 112 runs in the group stage. Sri Lanka finished second in their group and then beat a struggling England by a massive 10 wickets in the quarter finals stage. New Zealand qualified in fourth place of the same group as Sri Lanka and got a shock win in the quarter finals over South Africa who topped Group B and were one of the favourites to go on and win the tournament. New Zealand bowling attack secured them the victory bowling South Africa out for the small total of 172 and winning by 49 runs.
Sri Lanka have major doubts over the fitness over their legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as he struggled with knee and thigh problems. If Muralitharan passes a fitness test the team is likely to rename unchanged from the quarter final win over England. They have three of the top five run scorers in Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga who will all be looking to be top run scorer at the end of the tournament.
New Zealand could play just two spinners for the semi final instead of the three they played against South Africa in the quarter finals. If that is the case then Daryl Tuffey or Chris McKay are expected to come in to add an additional seamer. New Zealand will be looking to the experience of captain Daniel Vettori and young fast bowler Tim Southee to lead them to victory in the tournament.
Sri Lanka will be looking to get to their third Cricket World Cup final after their loss in the final to Australia in 2007 and their win in the final of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. New Zealand have reached the semi finals for the third time in the last four tournaments, however they have so far failed to get past this stage, meaning they will be looking to get to their first ever final.
This Cricket World Cup Semi Final is being shown live in numerous places, including Sky Sports.
Sri Lanka go into the game as heavy favourites after they beat the New Zealanders by 112 runs in the group stage. Sri Lanka finished second in their group and then beat a struggling England by a massive 10 wickets in the quarter finals stage. New Zealand qualified in fourth place of the same group as Sri Lanka and got a shock win in the quarter finals over South Africa who topped Group B and were one of the favourites to go on and win the tournament. New Zealand bowling attack secured them the victory bowling South Africa out for the small total of 172 and winning by 49 runs.
Sri Lanka have major doubts over the fitness over their legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as he struggled with knee and thigh problems. If Muralitharan passes a fitness test the team is likely to rename unchanged from the quarter final win over England. They have three of the top five run scorers in Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga who will all be looking to be top run scorer at the end of the tournament.
New Zealand could play just two spinners for the semi final instead of the three they played against South Africa in the quarter finals. If that is the case then Daryl Tuffey or Chris McKay are expected to come in to add an additional seamer. New Zealand will be looking to the experience of captain Daniel Vettori and young fast bowler Tim Southee to lead them to victory in the tournament.
Sri Lanka will be looking to get to their third Cricket World Cup final after their loss in the final to Australia in 2007 and their win in the final of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. New Zealand have reached the semi finals for the third time in the last four tournaments, however they have so far failed to get past this stage, meaning they will be looking to get to their first ever final.
This Cricket World Cup Semi Final is being shown live in numerous places, including Sky Sports.
