COLOMBO – Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was declared fit to play as New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat in the first World Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old spinner was doubtful for the game after hurting his knee and aggravating a quadricep injury but was included in an unchanged side which beat England by 10 wickets in the quarter-final on Saturday.
New Zealand brought in Andy McKay for left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock in the only change from the team which beat South Africa by 49 runs in the quarter-finals.
McKay was a replacement in the 15-man squad for injured Kyle Mills.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson
Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
Tv umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Pitch condition: A dry, brown pitch which was also used for the England-Sri Lanka quarter-final — a decision criticised by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori. It will help batsmen but has carry and bounce for bowlers as well, and spinners will also have their turn in the later stages.
