Herath's magic spell spurs Lanka

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 on Monday. 

Herath turned the virtual knock-out match on its head by grabbing five wickets for just three runs in a sensational spell while also being instrumental in a run-out which opened the floodgates as Sri Lanka defended a small total of 119 all out in their last Group 1 match.

New Zealand were shot out for just 60 in 15.3 overs, the third lowest total in Twenty20 International history.

Herath’s 5/3 was the third best ever figures by a bowler in Twenty20 Internationals behind team-mate Ajantha Mendis’ twin efforts of 6/8 and 6/16.

SRI LANKA: Kusal Perera c Ronchi  b Boult 16, Tillkaratne Dilshan c Ronchi b Boult 8, Mahela Jayawardene b N McCullum 25, Kumar Sangakkara c Anderson b Boult 4, Lahiru Thirimanne c Guptill  b Neesham 20, Angelo Mathews c Ronchi b McClenaghan 6, Thissara Perera c Williamson b Mills 16, Nuwan Kulasekara c N McCullum b McClenaghan 0, Sachithra Senanayake c Williamson b Neesham   17; Rangana Herath (not out) 1, Lasith Malinga b Neesham 0, Extras (LB-2, W-3, NB-1) 6, Total (all out, 19.2 overs) 119

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-29, 3-35, 4-65, 5-81, 6-85,7-92, 8-116, 9-119.

Bowling: Kyle Mills 4-0-30-1, Trent Boult 4-0-20-3, Corey Anderson 3-0-13-0, Michael McClenaghan 4-0-24-2, James Neesham 2.2-0-22-3, Nathan McCullum 2-0-8-1.

NEW ZEALAND: Martin Guptill (run out) 5, Kane Williamson (run out) 42, Brendon McCullum st Sangakkara b Herath 0, Ross Taylor  lbw Herath 0, James Neesham b Herath 0, Luke Ronchi                    lbw Herath 2, Nathan McCullum c Mathews b Senanayake 2, Kyle Mills lbw Senanayake 4, Trent Boult c Jayawardene b Herath 3, Michael McClenaghan (not out) 0, Corey Anderson (absent hurt), Extras (W-2) 2, Total (all out in 15.3 overs) 60

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-23, 4-23, 5-29, 6-33, 7-51, 8-60, 9-60.

Bowling: Nuwan Kulasekara 3-0-15-0, Angelo Mathews 4-0-26-0, Ranagna Herath 3.3-2-3-5, Lasith Malinga 2-0-13-0, Sachithra Senanayake 3-0-3-2.