Battle is tough now in 'knock-out-stage'

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said the thumping win over New Zealand in their final group match is good for his side's confidence but it has to be ready for tougher battles in the knock-out stages of the World Cup.

"It's always nice to win but you have to be realistic in matters like these. It's good for our confidence but we have to know the real test lies from the quarter-finals," said the wicketkeeper-batsman who scored a match-winning, maiden Cup century and went past 9,000 runs in ODIs.

"It's nice to score runs in these games, but the big test comes in the quarter finals. Hopefully I can repeat such performance in those games," added the 33-year-old who made a superb 111 in 128 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes to guide the Lankans to a 112-run triumph last night.