Chaminda Vaas [ Images ] set a new mark at Port Elizabeth Tuesday when he became the highest wicket taker in a single World Cup overtaking Australia's [ Images ] Shane Warne [ Images ] and New Zealand's [ Images ] Geoff Allott.

Warne and Allott had taken 20 wickets in the previous World Cup in England [ Images ].

The Sri Lankan took over the pole position with his 21st wicket dismissing Australian skipper Ricky Ponting [ Images ], with a slow off-cutter that was held by Sanath Jayasuriya [ Images ] at mid-off.

Vaas then claimed wickets No. 22 and No. 23 as Sri Lanka [ Images ] 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.