I always thought we were going to win, insists Mathews

The co-hosts appeared to be coasting into Saturday’s final, against either India or Pakistan in Mumbai, as Tillekeratne Dilshan (73) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (54) were sharing a second-wicket stand of 120 in pursuit of only 217.

But it got a little tight under the lights after both batsmen departed in quick succession and Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 25 runs.

It fell to the big-hitting Mathews and Thilan Samaraweera to settle the nerves and finish the job with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 35.

“I never had any doubt, because I always thought we were going to win,” said all-rounder Mathews, who had to bat with a runner after injuring his thigh while fielding.

He did admit, though, Sri Lanka had not quite bargained for a much closer finish than they had against England in last weekend’s quarter-final.

“It was getting to us, because the pressure was on. We had to pull something out of the bag,” Mathews said. “I couldn’t ask for any more, doing it in the semi-finals.”

He appears optimistic his injury will not stop him taking part on Saturday.

“We’ll have to see how it is (today), and rest it.”

Master off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan marked the last match of his record-breaking international career in his native country – the forthcoming final will be his swansong – by taking a wicket with his very last ball.

Captain Sangakkara said of Muralitharan: “He is the icon of Sri Lanka – as a champion, a cricketer and a human being. He is the ultimate team man. You cannot ask for anything more than that.”

Beaten New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had already revealed he would relinquish his position at the end of this campaign.

“It will be sad to step down, but I look forward to carrying on playing,” he said.

Sri Lanka, he predicts, will be difficult opponents for whoever else reaches the final.

“They are going to be very tough, particularly their bowling unit if they all click,” he added.