Sangakkara Ton Stuns Kiwis

Captain Kumar Sangakkara struck his 11th one-day international century and Muttiah Muralitharan bagged four wickets as Sri Lanka eased to a 112-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A fixture.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara led from the front, posting 111 in his side's 265-9, a total the co-hosts defended with ease thanks to more magic from Murali.

New Zealand, who were without captain Daniel Vettori for the Mumbai clash, were dismissed for a disappointing 153 in only 35 overs, however they still progress to the quarter-final stage.

Sri Lanka leapfrogged the Black Caps, Pakistan and Australia into top spot as a result of the win, however their final position will not be confirmed until the Aussies meet Shahid Afridi's men in Colombo on Saturday.

Reprieve

Sangakkara was one of only three Sri Lankan batsmen to reach double figures in a bizarre innings after New Zealand's stand-in skipper Ross Taylor had lost the toss.

Sri Lanka lost both openers with just 19 on the board, but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene steadied the ship adding 50 in 83 balls.

Jayawardene got a huge reprieve on 24, when Nathan McCullum's return 'catch' off the right-hander was ruled not out by umpire Asad Rauf after consultation with his colleagues despite replays appearing to rule in favour of the Black Caps.

New Zealand players appeared upset by the decision and exchanged words with Rauf and then the batsman.

Both Jayawardene and Sangakkara got bogged down during the early part of their innings and took over 70 balls to reach their half-centuries.

But the pair took Sri Lanka past 150 by the 35th over, but Southee trapped Jayawardene lbw for 66 in the first over of the batting power play to end his 145-run stand with the captain.

Sangakkara, however, carried on and hit a couple of boundaries and a six off Southee (3-63) to move past 9,000 one-day runs.

The Sri Lanka captain soon brought up his 11th hundred and a couple of boundaries in the next over pushed the run rate above five.

McCullum (2-48) cleaned up Sangakkara in the 42nd over, but his innings, which included 12 boundaries and two sixes, had put Sri Lanka in a strong position.

Thilan Samaraweera (5), Chamara Silva (3), Nuwan Kulasekara (1) and Lasith Malinga (6) lost their wickets in quest for quick runs as Sri Lanka slipped to 239-8 in a matter of six overs.

Rally

Mathews (41 not out) held the tail up despite losing Muttiah Muralitharan in the last over, striking four useful boundaries to propel Sri Lanka past 250.

New Zealand never threatened the total despite a promising start from aggressive opening duo Brendan McCullum and Martin Guptill.

Both right-handers fell in the pace of four runs and despite a brief rally from Jesse Ryder (19) and Taylor (33), spin was soon to play a major part in the outcome of the match.

Spin king Murali grabbed the ball and ripped the heart out of the New Zealand middle-order, despite suffering from an apparent hamstring injury.

Ajantha Mendis chipped in with the wicket of Ryder and victory was a formality with the Black Caps toiling on 102-6.

Jacob Oram (20 not out) added some lusty hitting down the order, however the defeat was sealed when Lasith Malinga (1-38) returned to send Hamish Bennett's off stump cart-wheeling.