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By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport in Port Elizabeth
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Aravinda de Silva has confirmed his retirement from international cricket.
The 37-year-old was on the losing side as Australia defeated Sri Lanka on Tuesday to go through to the World Cup final.
And it was sad end for the 1996 World Cup winner - run out on just 11.
De Silva had hit 267 in eight innings at an average of 33.5 during the tournament and was one of the few reliable middle-order batsmen.
He made his debut in the 1983/84 season and played 308 one-day internationals, amassing more than 9,000 runs.
And it was his century in the 1996 World Cup final against Australia that propelled Sri Lanka to a famous victory.
His much under-estimated off-spin has also proven useful on many occasions and he took two wickets in Tuesday¿s match.
I've been away from home for a long time so I think it's high time I spent more time with my family
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But he seemed to show his age a little when he was run out, a little slow to respond to Kumar Sangakkara's call for a quick single.
After the match, De Silva said: "It's an emotional day for me but I think it's pretty sad.
"After doing the hard work we didn't apply ourselves when we batted."
He said he would now concentrate on something international cricketers have little time to do these days.
De Silva walks off after being run out by Bichel
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"I've been away from home for a long time so I think it's high time I spent more time with my family and concentrate on whatever the second phase of my life will bring."
He also spared to time to commend Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist, who chose to walk early in the match despite being given not out by umpire Rudi Koertzen off de Silva's own bowling.
"I think it was a good gesture on Gilchrist's part to walk off," said de Silva.
"It's very rare nowadays to see a batsman walk but he and Brian Lara and other guys do it all the time.
"I think there are some gentlemen in the game who still do it."
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