At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, July 5. Sri Lanka won by 87 runs. Toss: New Zealand.

Although they had not yet won a game, New Zealand had enough no-result points to have faint chance of booking a berth in the final on net run-rate. But, after Sri Lanka stormed to 293, they had to beat the target in 41.4 overs, a near-impossible task. After the home openers reached 69 in the 13th over, Ranatunga struck 102 from 98 balls, with two sixes and six fours – only his fourth century in 240 one-day internationals – and added 132 with De Silva. New Zealand's only hope was to lash out and Astle scored 74 in 76 balls. But losing Fleming was a serious blow, and they expired in the 40th over.

Man of the Match: A. Ranatunga.

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