COLOMBO, March 26: Sri Lanka ended England’s gruelling five-month global odyssey with a comprehensive 10-wicket triumph on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final showdown against New Zealand. Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan, with 108 not out, and Upul Tharanga, who hit an unbeaten 102, enjoyed their second 200-plus partnership of the tournament, wrapping up victory with more than 10 overs to spare.

Dilshan was the first to reach his hundred, his 10th in one-day cricket and second in this tournament, cutting Swann to the cover boundary for his ninth boundary. Tharanga completed his 11th century, and also his second in this World Cup, with the winning boundary off Chris Tremlett.

The win also allowed Muttiah Muralitharan, the most successful bowler in history, to extend his 19-year career by at least three more days with Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, facing the Kiwis in Colombo on Tuesday.

England, who have been on the road virtually non-stop since embarking on their successful Ashes tour in October, made a dogged 229 for six in their 50 overs.

Jonathan Trott (86) and Eoin Morgan (50), who was dropped three times, provided much-needed backbone on a slow, flat R. Premadasa stadium pitch.

Trott fell in the 49th over, caught off Muralitharan who finished with 2-54, after a 115-ball innings which featured just two boundaries.

“We lost the toss but we started well with the ball,” said Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. “The guys fought hard, especially fielding first in the heat and humidity and they kept up the pressure.”

England captain Andrew Strauss, whose side had endured a rollercoaster tournament, admitted they had fallen short.

“They were able to bowl a lot of dot balls at us to build pressure and we weren’t able to take advantage of the platform that we had,” said Strauss. “But we have to be honest; we haven’t been good enough during the tournament. This was a step too far.”—AFP