Kiwis elect to bat in semi

Colombo - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the first Cricket World Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka named an unchanged team from the line-up who beat England in the quarter-finals. Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was declared fit to play despite suffering from a bruised knee and a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the match.

New Zealand, playing their sixth World Cup semi-final, made one change, bringing in left-arm paceman Andy McKay for left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock.

The winner of the match will play India or Pakistan in the final in Mumbai on Saturday.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Kane Williamson,, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori (captain), Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Andy McKay.