( CNN ) -- Sri Lanka returned to the top of Group A with a convincing 112-run win over Cricket World Cup rivals New Zealand on Friday as veteran spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan took center stage in Mumbai . Both teams had already qualified for the quarterfinals of the 50-over tournament , but the highest-placed sides should avoid Group B heavyweights such as India and South Africa . Sri Lanka 's fourth victory in six games left the co-hosts above Australia on run differential , meaning they will finish second , with New Zealand a point back in third place . The Australians , seeking a fourth successive title , complete their group campaign in Colombo on Saturday against fourth-placed Pakistan -- who have also qualified for the last eight and who could top the table with a win . New Zealand restricted Sri Lanka to 265-9 , with skipper Kumar Sangakkara top-scoring on 111 as he made his first World Cup century . Sangakkara put on 145 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene , who was controversially given not out in the 24th over when bowler Nathan McCullum dived to pluck a return catch . Television replays showed that the Black Caps player had grasped the ball before it touched the grass , but umpire Asad Rauf told Jayawardene to stay at the crease after consulting with video official Amiesh Saheba . Jayawardene went on to make 66 off 90 balls before becoming the second of Tim Southee 's three victims , while McCullum struck twice as the last seven wickets fell for 101 runs . In reply , the Kiwis reached 83-2 before suffering an all-too-common batting collapse , losing five wickets for 27 runs and eventually slumping to 153 all out in the 35th over . Muralitharan , who turns 39 next month two weeks after the final , claimed figures of 4-25 off eight overs has he extended his world-record one-day total to 530 . He has now taken 64 wickets in World Cup matches , leaving him seven behind Australia 's record-holder Glenn McGrath in his last tournament before retiring from international cricket . Murali 's expected successor , Ajantha Mendis , took 2-24 as the four other Sri Lankan bowlers shared the wickets evenly . In Friday 's other match , Ireland beat the Netherlands by six wickets in Kolkata to clinch a second win in Group B . The Irish , who shocked England earlier in the tournament , reached 307-4 with 2.2 overs to spare in the third-highest run chase in World Cup history . Paul Stirling smashed 101 off just 72 balls faced , hitting 14 fours and two sixes in the fourth-fastest World Cup century . He put on 177 for the opening wicket with captain William Porterfield , who scored 68 , while Niall O'Brien was unbeaten on 57 . The Dutch had been hopeful of a first victory after posting 306 , including a bizarre four run-outs in the final over , with Ryan Ryan ten Doeschate 's 106 being his second century of the event . On Saturday , Bangladesh play Group B leaders South Africa -- who have already qualified for the quarterfinals -- in Dhaka in a match the fifth-placed co-hosts need to win to go through . The West Indies , above Bangladesh only on run differential , close out the schedule against India in Chennai on Sunday .
Sri Lanka will finish second in Group A following 112-run victory over New Zealand . Co - hosts will be deposed at the top by either South Africa or Ireland on Saturday . All four teams have already qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup . Ireland end up with two wins after beating fellow Group B team the Netherlands .