Chaminda Vaas set a new mark at Port Elizabeth Tuesday when he became the highest wicket taker in a single World Cup overtaking Australia's Shane Warne and New Zealand's Geoff Allott.
Warne and Allott had taken 20 wickets in the previous World Cup in England.
The Sri Lankan took over the pole position with his 21st wicket dismissing Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, with a slow off-cutter that was held by Sanath Jayasuriya at mid-off.
Vaas then claimed wickets No. 22 and No. 23 as Sri Lanka restricted the World Champions to 212-7 in 50 overs in the World Cup semi-final.
The left arm paceman, playing his third World Cup, has now taken 279 wickets in 220 one-day internationals. His best bowling figures are eight for 19, against Zimbabwe last year in Colombo.
Earlier in the tournament, Vaas became the first man to claim a hat-trick in the first three balls in a preliminary round match against Bangladesh.