Chittagong: Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath produced a dream spell of five wickets for just three runs as Sri Lanka recorded a crushing 59-run victory over New Zealand in a dramatic Super 10 match to qualify for the semifinals of the World Twenty20 here on Monday.
Herath turned the virtual knock-out match on its head while also being instrumental in a run out that opened the floodgates as Sri Lanka defended a small total of 119 all out in their last Group 1 match.
Herath’s 5-3 was the third best figures of all time for a bowler in Twenty20 Internationals behind team mate Ajantha Mendis’ effort of 6-8.
With this result at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Sri Lanka finished on top of Group 1 on net run rate, although they ended their Super 10 engagements tied on six points with South Africa.
Sri Lanka will now take on the Group 2 runners-up, which will be decided after Tuesday’s match between West Indies and Pakistan in Dhaka.
Group 2 winners India will take on Group 1 runners-up South Africa on April 4, also in the capital.
New Zealand suffered a jolt even before their run chase as their key player Corey Anderson was taken to hospital after dislocating his finger while attempting a catch during Sri Lanka innings. Anderson did not come out to bat.
Chasing a small total of 120, New Zealand seemed to be on course for a semifinal spot as they reached 18 for no loss at the end of second over.
But drama unfolded in the very first ball of the third over, bowled by Herath, as New Zealand opener Martin Guptill ran for a single without response from his partner Kane Williamson. Herath was lightning quick to throw the ball to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who whipped off the bails.
Five balls later, one-down and captain Brendon McCullum was done in by a beauty of a delivery from Herath as it deceived the batsman by its flight.
McCullum came out of his crease to smash the ball only to be beaten and the rest left to Sangakkara as Sri Lanka bounced back into the match.
Herath immediately came back for his second over and dismissed Ross Taylor and Jimmy Neesham for ducks in the last two consecutive deliveries of the sixth over.
Taylor was adjudged LBW while Neesham’s leg-stump was disturbed after he played across to a tossed-up delivery bowled from round the wicket which spun and went through the gap between bat and pad.
The spinner later dismissed Luke Ronchi and Trent Boult. (PTI)
Brief scores:
SL: 119/10, 19.2 overs (M Jayawardene 25; T Boult 3-20, J Neesham 3-22)
NZ: 60/10, 15.3 overs (K Williamson 42; R Herath 5-3)