Match thread WC2007: First semifinal - NZ vs SL

[OZGOD]

This will be a pretty epic clash - SL won the first round and look to be the team in better form. Malinga the Slinga being back will be a huge bonus for them. Plus Jayasuriya, Jayawardene and Silva are all averaging 50+.

NZ were hammered by OZ last match but they have shown an ability to bounce back from thrashings and be competitive in subsequent matches. Styris is in great form (averaging an absurd 92 with the bat and has 9 wickets @ 26 with the ball) and with Bond back (12 wickets @ 12 in the WC) NZ will have an extra edge to their bowling attack.

Should be a great contest.

SL: Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Lasith Malinga.

NZ: Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Peter Fulton, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Craig McMillan, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 Brendon McCullum (wk), 8 James Franklin, 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Jeetan Patel, 11 Shane Bond.