Skipper steers Sri Lanka to final

The captain's unbeaten 115 underpinned a total of 289 for five - and then the Kiwi reply lurched to 208 all out in only 41.4 overs, thanks largely to a collapse of four wickets for two runs in 11 balls.

Muttiah Muralitharan (four for 31) unsurprisingly cashed in with three of those middle-order wickets to help put New Zealand in a situation from which there was no escape. It was nonetheless Jayawardene's hundred which was the most telling factor.

Jayawardene needed 48 balls before he hit a boundary, but he backed himself to use the 50 overs. The first half of his innings was characterised by clever placement for ones and twos, and his second 50 came from just 28 balls as he launched into trademark timing to all parts.

Upul Tharanga's run-a-ball 73 first put Sri Lanka on course for a competitive total, after they lost Sanath Jayasuriya in only the third over. James Franklin was rewarded with the first breakthrough in his second over - and another success in his second spell 54 runs later.

Jayasuriya was being targeted by Bond in pre-match bluster - but it was the left-armer who got the danger man. The Kiwis were unable to part Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara, though, until the latter mistimed a catch low to mid-on.

Tharanga was joined by a watchful Jayawardene, who was happy to allow the opener to continue to provide the momentum in a half-century which contained eight boundaries. But, when Daniel Vettori was introduced, Tharanga upped the ante.

Vettori got his revenge, though, when Tharanga was bowled round his legs sweeping, and the return of Bond did for Chamara Silva.

Jayawardene remained unflustered, and his confidence proved well-placed as he and Tillekeratne Dilshan put on 81 in 11 overs - and 102 came from the last 10, with the centurion adding three sixes to his 10 fours.

The Kiwis were therefore faced with a tough target and - despite some truncated defiance from the injured Craig McMillan, batting with a runner, and a half-century last-wicket stand between Franklin and Jeetan Patel - they exited the competition with a whimper.