Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka sweep Kiwis aside

Why oh why can't two teams turn up for big games in this tournament?  The only truly close games we have seen, and there haven't been many, are those that have nothing riding on them.  And so it was with this semi-final also, with New Zealand surrendering more meekly than the Meek family of Meekville, Illinois.

Cricket is a very simple game, your batters score runs and your bowlers & fielders try to stop the other team's batters doing the same.  Today, New Zealand could do neither of these things and it is notable that the Blackcaps have folded in every pressure game they have played. Shane Bond was woeful; the other bowlers mediocre at best; and the batting suffered an 'are you England in disguise' sickening collapse. 

Unfortunately for them, Sri Lanka proved to be extremely proficient at both, including a breathtakingly good 115 from captain Jayawardene and a stunning display from Lasith Malinga with the ball.

All in all this game probably sums up the whole tournament: plenty of potential but ultimately disappointing; like David Tennant as Doctor Who. [lee calvert] Images by Getty