Sri Lanka are almost out of the tournament as New Zealand beat them by 38 runs in their Group B clash at Johannesburg.

Sanath Jayasuriya was the first one to depart. Kyle Mills took an easy catch off Daryl Tuffey to send the big-hitter back.

Tillakaratne Dilshan followed quick on the veteran’s heels, with substiture JS Patel taking the catch off Mills.

It was skipper Kumar Sngakkara’s turn next. He edged a James Franklin delivery for an easy catch to Ross Taylor at first slip.

Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori then dismissed Thilan Samaraweera. Next was Thilina Kandamby, who could not make it to the crease in time.

The remaining ones also could not stand for long against the Kiwi attack and the Sri Lankan innings were bundles up for 277 in 46.4 overs.

Earlier, riding on brilliant half-centuries by Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill, New Zealand posted a massive total of 315 for seven.

New Zealand got off to a cautious start but soon the openers — Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder started to fire all guns and gave their team a great start, after they were put into bat on Sunday.

Ryder was more dominant of the two batsmen and he simply sent the Lankan bowlers on the leather hunt.

Ryder hit a quickfire half-century to put New Zealand on the track of getting on to a big total.

It was Nuwan Kulasekara, who drew the first blood for Sri Lanka by sending back dangerous Ryder, who departed after a well-made 58-ball 74.

Just after Ryder got out, the Kiwis suddenly lost four more wickets in quick succession to concede the advantage that their openers gave them.

Angelo Mathews accounted for the prized wicket of McCullum (46) and Grant Elliott (0), while Sanath Jayasuriya saw off both Ross Taylor (4) and Neil Broom (15) cheaply, to bring Sri Lanka right back on track.

Thereafter, Martin Guptill and captain Daniel Vettori managed to steady the boat, after New Zealand lost four quick wickets.

A sensible innings of 66 by Guptill and Vettori (48) and later Franklin (28), the Black Caps managed to post a huge total.

Earlier, the Lankans left out Muttiah Muralitharan for this match.

After losing to England, Sri Lanka would be aiming to bring their Champions Trophy campaign back on track against the struggling New Zealand.

In a group where hosts South Africa and the consistent Lankans were seen as favourites to qualify for the semifinals, the race to the last-four stage has been thrown wide open after England’s win on Friday night.

Sri Lanka beat South Africa in a rain-hit opener before being upstaged by the inspired Englishmen on a seam-friendly track.