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COLOMBO: Sri Lanka ended England’s gruelling five-month global getaway 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 in Colombo in the 40th over.
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.
Patience was the key word for Trott, who hit his fourth half-century of the tournament, as he negotiated the four-pronged Sri Lankan spin attack.
But he was unable to lift the innings in the final overs as England managed just 23 in the batting power-play.
Trott fell in the 49th over, caught off Muralitharan who finished with 2-54, after a 115-ball innings which featured just two boundaries.
