( CNN ) -- Hosts Sri Lanka are through to their second successive Cricket World Cup final after beating New Zealand by five wickets in Colombo on Tuesday . The Black Caps struggled throughout their innings , failing to use their allocated 50 overs before eventually being skittled out for just 217 in 48.5 overs . And although Sri Lanka wobbled in their reply , Thilan Samaraweera ( 23 not out ) and Angelo Mathews ( 14 not out ) saw them home with a crucial 35-run stand as the home side made 220-5 off 47.5 overs -- inflicting a sixth semifinal defeat on New Zealand . As well as the significance of a World Cup semifinal , the match also marked the last apperance on home soil for legendary Sri Lankan spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan . The 38-year-old , who is the most successful Test and one-day bowler in cricket history , went out in style , taking his 534th one-day wicket off his very last ball . Muralitharan had New Zealand top scorer Scott Styris ( 57 ) lbw to send the 38,000-crowd at the R. Premadasa stadium into wild scenes of celebration . It was one of Muralitharan 's two wickets , with Ajantha Mendis ( 3-35 ) and Lasith Malinga ( 3-55 ) also successful as New Zealand rarely threatened to post a score big enough to defend . In reply , Tillakaratne Dilshan ( 73 ) and skipper Kumar Sangakkara ( 54 ) helped Sri Lanka reach 160-1 to appear in total control . However , the loss of four wickets for just 25 runs threatened to derail Sri Lankan hopes before Samaraweera and Mathews steered them to their victory target . The victory moves 1996 champions Sri Lanka into their third final and , after finishing runners-up to Australia in 2007 , they will be looking to make amends when they face either India or Pakistan in Saturday 's final in Mumbai . Those two rivals face each other in Mohali on Wednesday in one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in recent history .
Hosts Sri Lanka are through to their second successive Cricket World Cup final . Sri Lanka defeat New Zealand by five wickets in front of 38,000 fans in Colombo . Muttiah Muralitharan takes a wicket in his final match on Sri Lanka soil . They will now face either Pakistan or India in Saturday 's final in Mumbai .