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Sat, 26 March 2016
WT20: England survive Sri Lanka scare to enter semis

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23:02  

ENGLAND WIN BY 10 RUNS, ENTER SEMIS!

- SL 161-8 (20 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

England survived a scare from Sri Lanka as they registered a thrilling 10-run victory to enter the semi-finals of the ICC World T20, on Saturday.

Captain Angelo Mathews smashed an unbeaten 73 from 54 balls to rally Sri Lanka after a horror start after they were set a huge 172 for victory.

Jos Buttler's late blast had powered England to a huge total as he smashed 66 from 37 balls, while Jason Roy stroked 42 from 39 balls.

22:58   England survive Sri Lanka scare to enter semis


- SL 161-8 (20 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Ben Stokes to bowl the final over, with 15 runs needed for victory.

Mathews, who has made 69 from 48 balls, will be on strike.

The first ball is a full toss but Mathews can't get it past the fielder at covers and refuses the single. 15 needed from 5 balls.

The next ball is a yorker which Mathews turns to midwicket and comes back for two runs despite his hamstring injury. 13 needed from 4 balls.

Mathews paddles the next ball as Rashid at short fine leg gets his finger tips to it as two more runs come from it. 11 needed from 3 balls

Stokes bowls a superb yorker which Mathews can only defend for another dot ball.

Sri Lanka need 11 from 2 balls for victory, two sixes needed.

Mathews goes for a heave but can't get it away and it is another dot ball to end Sri Lanka's hopes. The last ball is also a dot ball as England hold their nerves to make it to the semi-finals, knocking out both Sri Lanka and South Africa.

22:53   Jordan's double strike lifts England, SL need 15 from last over


- SL 157-7 (19 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Sri Lanka need 22 from two overs for victory as Jordan comes in to bowl the 19th over.

The first ball is a low full toss which Mathews drives to the covers for a single.

The next ball is a perfect yorker outside the off-stump as Shanaka squeezes it fine on the off-side for a four.

He goes after the next ball but Joe Root dives to his left and plucks it out of thin air to get a crucial wicket for England. What a sensational catch by Root at such a key moment in the game, and more importantly that saved a boundary.

Sri Lanka are 155 for seven in 18.3 overs, needing 17 from nine balls for victory.

Jordan bowls a short ball which Herath tucks on the leg side for one.

He bowls another good yorker to Mathews, who drives the fifth ball to sweeper on the off-side for a single.

The last ball is a perfect yorker, as Herath looks for a big hit but misses and is bowled for one.

Jordan ends with wonderful figures of four for 28 in four overs.

Sri Lanka need 15 runs from the final over for victory.
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22:45   Mathews hits half-century to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt


- SL 150-6 (18 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Left-arm pacer Willey from round the wicket. Shanaka has another wild swing but gets an inside edge which goes on the bouncer to the keeper. He somehow manages to loft the next ball on the leg side for just a single to bring Mathews back on strike.

Mathews gives Willey the charge who bowls a wide full toss which is driven to sweeper cover for one.

Shanaka gets under a length delivery and crashes it over midwicket for a much-needed six to keep the game in the balance.

He walks across the stumps to the next and tries the paddle scoop but fails to make connection.

The next ball is short as Shanaka swings it hard through midwicket for a four to get 12 from the over.

Sri Lanka are 150 for six in 18 overs, with another 22 needed from two overs for victory.
22:41   Perera falls for 20, Sri Lanka lose 6th wicket


- SL 138-6 (17 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

England take the gamble by continuing with off-spinner Ali with Sri Lanka on the attack.

Mathews immediately decides to target Ali as he clobbers the spinner for back to back sixes over the leg side. He hits the third ball through midwicket and rushes back for two runs despite his injury. Ali bowls a full toss but Mathews can only get a single to deep square leg.

Perera also goes on the attack as he lofts the fifth ball straight back over the bowler's head for the third six of the over. He goes for another big hit but fails to make connection and is struck on the pads.

21 runs from Ali's over as he has gone for 32 runs in his two overs. The two England spinners have been very expensive conceding a massive 63 runs in the four overs combined.

Sri Lanka firmly back in the contest, with 40 needed from four overs for victory.

Mathews has smashed his way to 65 from 44 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes, while Perera has hit 16 from eight balls.

Surely, there will be no more overs of spin. Jordan comes back as Mathews drives the first ball, a full toss on the off-side for one before Perera turns the third ball on the leg side for one.

However, he is caught at mid-off off the next delivery trying a big shot down the ground.

Perera played a good hand of 20 from 11 balls, involved in a quickfire stand of 42 runs from 22 balls for the sixth wicket.

Dasun Shanaka can just sneak a leg bye from the last ball as Jordan bowls an excellent over, giving away six runs while making the breakthrough.

Sri Lanka are 138 for six in 17 overs, needing 34 from three overs for victory.
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22:29   Mathews hits half-century to keep Sri Lanka's hopes alive


- SL 111-5 (15 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Sri Lanka still in the hunt with Mathews batting well out in the middle but he needs support from the other end. They still need 77 runs from seven overs for victory.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali comes into the attack. Three singles from the first three balls before Thisara Perera clubs the fourth over midwicket for a six to bring up Sri Lanka's 100, in the 14th over.

Left-arm pacer Willey comes back. Perera slaps the third ball through midwicket for two runs followed by a single as Mathews starts feeling some discomfort in his hamstring. That could prove to be quite crucial.

He drives the last ball to long-off before he hobbles across for a single, to complete his fifty, from just 40 balls.

Sri Lanka are 111 for five in 15 overs, with another 61 needed from five overs for victory.
22:19   Kapugedera out for 30, Sri Lanka lose 5th wicket


- SL 95-5 (13 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Plunkett comes back, to replace Stokes, who bowled three overs for 15 runs. He starts with a wide before Kapugedera flicks the second ball behind square on the leg side for a four.

Kapugdera gets a lifeline as Root misses the direct hit at the non-striker's end from midwicket followed by an easy single off the next ball.

Kapugdera goes for a big heave on the leg side but fails to make proper connection and is brilliantly caught by Stokes at deep midwicket on the edge of the boundary.
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22:16   Captain Mathews rallies Sri Lanka after a horror start


- SL 88-4 (12 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Stokes attempts another bouncer but this time Mathews takes it on, pulling it over midwicket for a four. Two singles bring up the 50-run stand from as many balls before Mathews is put down by Morgan in the covers. Mathews threw his bat at a wide delivery as Morgan dived full length to his left but failed to hold on.

Mathews look to attack the spinner. Rashid bowls a flighted delivery as Mathews lofts it straight down the ground for another huge six. Two balls later, Kapugedera joins in the party as he lofts it over the off-side for another six.

Another single before Mathews hits it high over long-on for the third six of the over.

Rashid has been hit for 21 runs in his second over, and has overall given away 32 in two overs.

Sri Lanka have a glimmer of hope as they reach 88 for four in 12 overs, with another 84 needed from eight overs for victory.

Mathews has hit his way to 44 from 32 balls, while Kapugedera has played the supporting role quite well to score 25 from 23 balls.
22:08  


- SL 59-4 (10 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Stokes continues as he bowls another tidy over, giving away just three runs, including a wide. England have not shied bowling quick bouncers at the Sri Lanka batsmen, even though they have conceded wides already.

Finally, we have spin as leg-spinner Adil Rashid comes into the attack. Kapugedera takes a single from the first ball before Mathews lofts a first ball straight down the ground for a huge six, followed by three more singles.

10 runs from the 10th over as Sri Lanka stage a slight recovery to reach 59 for four at the halfway stage, with another 113 needed from 10 overs for victory.

Mathews has looked good on 25 from 26 balls, while Kapugedera has made 15 from 17 balls.
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22:05   Sri Lanka struggle after a horror start, England in control


- SL 46-4 (8 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Chamara Kapugedera looks to pull Plunkett but gets a glove which bounces short of Rashid at short fine leg. The ball beats Rashid on the bounce but wicketkeeper Buttler sprints all the way to the boundary to save the boundary as Sri Lanka get three runs.

Plunkett then gets one to bounce extra and a bit of movement too as Mathews is beaten before three singles come from the last three overs.

The Powerplay has been a disaster for Sri Lanka as they are struggling on 34 for four in six overs.

No signs of spin yet as Ben Stokes comes into the attack, the fourth fast bowler for England.

He bowls a quick bouncer to Mathews, who ducks under it before taking a single on the leg side. A wide down the leg side to Kapugedera followed by two singles as England continue to be in control.

England are keen not to let Sri Lanka off the hook as they continue to torment the batsmen with fast bowlers.

Plunkett continues to keep it tight before Kapugedera breaks the shackles by lofting the last ball over the covers for a four, the first boundary for Sri Lanka after 26 balls.

Sri Lanka can take heart from the fact that even England struggled at the start of their innings. But Sri Lanka have lost a lot of wickets at the start and that has crippled them big time.

After eight overs, Sri Lanka are struggling on 46 for four, with another 126 needed from 12 overs for victory at more than 10 runs per over.
21:46   Sri Lanka lose 4th wicket, England in control


- SL 28-4 (5 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

England's fast bowler Liam Plunkett comes into the attack, replacing Jordan. He makes a tidy start, giving away just two singles as England continue to build after a dream start with the ball.

Change of ends for Jordan. He nearly picks up another wicket as Mathews gets an inside edge which narrowly misses the off-stump and goes for a four. The next ball is on the pads and Mathews this time gets it off the middle for another boundary.

11 runs from the over as Sri Lanka reach 28 for four in five overs, with another 144 needed from 15 overs for victory at an asking rate of 9.6.
21:37   Sri Lanka lose 4th wicket, England in control

- SL 15-4 (3 ovs) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Sri Lanka in dire straits as Chris Jordan also strikes in first over. This time it is the other opener, Dinesh Chandimal, who gets an edge and is caught behind by wicketkeeper Buttler for one.

Infact, Chandimal walked right across his stumps before steering it straight to wicketkeeper Buttler. He was perhaps undone by the extra bounce from Jordan.

Sri Lanka reeling on 4 for 2 in the second over with their two key batsmen back in the hut.

Lahiru Thirimanne gets off the mark with a single and Siriwardana takes one too as five runs come from the second over.

Thirimanne looks to flick Willey but is lucky that the ball fell short of a diving Adil Rashid at short fine leg.

Siriwardana gets the first boundary of Sri Lanka's innings as he clubs a length delivery from Jordan over midwicket for a six.

He looks to drive the next ball over the off-side but fails to get enough elevation and is caught in the covers for seven.

Sri Lanka are struggling with the bat as they lose three wickets in the first three overs.

And it gets worse as Thirimanne is run out off the final delivery of the over to leave Sri Lanka in tatters on 15 for four in three overs.

Angelo Mathews defended the first ball on the off-side as Thirimanne came down a long way for a single and was sent back but Stokes was agile to the situation as he swooped in from the covers and got a direct hit.
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21:24   Sri Lanka lose Dilshan early after England post 171


- SL 3-1 (1 ov) vs Eng 171-4 | SCORECARD

Left-arm pacer David Willey to bowl the first over for England. Dinesh Chandimal gets off the mark with a single before Tillakaratne Dilshan gets off the mark with two runs.

However, he is dismissed off the very next delivery as Dilshan (2) has a wild swing but hits it straight into the hands of the fielder at deep square leg.

A big blow for Sri Lanka so early in their innings and it will be a big test for their inexperienced batting line-up.

New batsman Milinda Siriwardana plays three dot ball as Willey makes a superb start, taking a wicket in the very first over of the innings.
20:59   Buttler blasts 37-ball 66 to power England to 171


- Eng 171-4 (20 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Perera, who conceded 18 runs in his first over, comes back. He starts the final over with a good yorker to Morgan, who is struck on the feet and gets a leg bye.

The next ball is a full toss which Buttler drives straight back to the bowler, who stops it before he effects the run out of Morgan, who had backed up a long way.

Buttler gets two runs from the third ball as the fielder at deep midwicket misfields before he is beaten by a yorker. Another yorker which Buttler digs out for one before Ben Stokes carts the last ball of the innings, a full toss, over midwicket for a six.

England post a huge 171 for four in their 20 overs, having smashed 72 runs from the last five overs.

Buttler was instrumental in England's late assault as he hammered 66 from 37 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
20:53   Buttler blasts 28-ball fifty to put England on top


- Eng 161-3 (19 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Dasun Shanka comes into the attack to bowl the 18th over. The second ball is a wide full toss which Buttler drives through the covers for a four before he gets two runs from the next ball to raise the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket from just 31 balls with his captain Morgan.

Buttler blasts the next ball straight down the ground for a huge six to bring up his fifty in grand style, from just 28 balls.

Another good over for England as Dasun concedes 15 in his first over.

England on a roll at the moment with 47 coming from the last three to take the score to 146 for three in 18 overs.

Chameera starts off the 19th over with a wide. The next ball is short and wide as Buttler hammers it through point for a four to take England past the 150-run mark.

He clubs the next ball over long-on for a six as Chameera is guilty of bowling a length delivery to a well set Buttler, who is going for everything now.

Two singles before Buttler smashes it straight back at the bowler, who is struck on his arm and manages to save some runs.

Chameera gives away 15 runs in his final over to finish with 36 runs from four overs.
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20:43   Buttler, Morgan on the attack, England eye big score


- Eng 131-3 (17ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

A gamble from Sri Lanka as they introduce medium pacer Thisara Perera in the 16th over of the innings.

Morgan wastes no time in going after Perera, who looks a bit rusty as he starts off with a wide. He drives the first ball through the covers for two runs before flicking the next over the leg side for a four.

He smashes the third ball straight over long-off for a six before clipping a full toss through midwicket for two runs.

A big over for England as Perera concedes 18 runs in the over with England taking their score to 117 for three in 16 overs.

Chameera starts the 17th over with two dot balls to Buttler before he misses the yorker and the right-hander despatches the full toss through the covers for a four.

Buttler smashes the next ball down the ground for another boundary before he steers Chameera through thirdman for the third four of the over. And interestingly, Chameera is given a no-ball for overstepping but the replays show that the bowler had not crossed the crease.

However, the free hit doesn't cost Sri Lanka much as Buttler hits it down to long-on for a single.

England looking on course for a total around the 160-mark as they reach 131 for three in 17 overs, having scored 32 from the last two overs.

Buttler is looking threatening on 36 from 24 balls, while Morgan has smashed 20 from 12 balls.
20:32  


- Eng 99-3 (15 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Mathews has done a good job with the ball today. He does well to keep it tight in his final over, giving away just five singles.

Eoin Morgan gives Mathews the charge but is beaten by one that slants across him.

England look desperate to keep the scoring rate going as they reach 93 for three in 14 overs.

Herath also does well to concede just six runs in his final over to finish with good figures of one for 27 in four overs.

England need a few boundaries to break free as they reach 99 for three in 15 overs. They would look to cross the 150-run mark which gives their bowling a good score to defend.
20:23   Roy dismissed for 42, England lose 3rd wicket


- Eng 88-3 (13 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Roy attempts a ugly-looking reverse hoick against Mathews, but fails to make connection as Buttler calls him for a quick leg bye.

Buttler at his innovative best. He walks across a long way before paddling Mathews fine on the leg side for a four.

Buttler comes down the track to Vandersay and is beaten in the flight but is lucky that he gets a thick outside edge which takes it past the keeper for a four.

However, Vandersay strikes later in the over with the key wicket of Roy, who is trapped leg before wicket for 42. Once again, it is the short ball that does the trick for Sri Lanka, as Roy looks to pull but misses and is caught in front of the stumps.
20:14   Root out for 25, England lose 2nd wicket


- Eng 73-2 (11 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Vandersay strikes with the first ball of his new spell. He is lucky as Root hits a long hop straight into the hands of the fielder at deep midwicket, he could have hit that anywhere.

Root unable to make most of a good start as he walks back after scoring 25, putting on 61 runs from 51 balls for the second wicket with Roy.

Jos Buttler comes in ahead of Eoin Morgan. He gets a leg bye first up before a misfield in the deep on the leg side gives Roy two runs.

Buttler gets off the mark with a four, reverse sweeping leg-spinner Vandersay past the short thirdman fielder.
20:09  


- Eng 65-1 (10 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera comes into the attack, to bowl the eighth over. Roy has a big swing off the last ball but is beaten and is foxed again off the next by a slower one.

Good mix of pace by Chameera as England can manage just three runs from the over to reach 50 for one after eight overs.

Herath comes back into the attack. Roy looks to maintain the tempo as he heaves Herath over midwicket for a six to bring up the 50-run for the second wicket, from 42 balls.

It turns out to be a productive over for England as they get 10 runs from Herath's third over.

Chameera doing quite well with the slower. Root comes down the track as somehow manages to loft the slower ball over the off-side for a four.

The last ball is a full toss but Roy can't beat the fielder in the covers and misses out on some runs.

England are 65 for one in 10 overs, with Roy on 37 and Root on 33.
19:58  


- Eng 47-1 (7 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Two overs for Herath with the new ball before he is taken off, perhaps to have another go in the middle overs.

Mathews comes back, with the wicketkeeper up to the stumps for the medium pacer.

Roy makes room and looks to smash it through the off-side but the lack of pace makes it difficult to get it away.

But Roy does not give up as he comes across and sweeps the next ball past short fine for a four and Root ends the over with another four as England start to lift the tempo.

Left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana comes into the attack. Two singles from the first two balls before Roy despatches a full toss straight back over the bowler's head for a six and keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

England have recovered well after a slow start to reach 47 for one in seven overs with Roy on 28 and Root on 17. They were eight for one in three overs, but have hit 39 from the last four overs.


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19:50   Root, Roy rally England after early wicket vs SL


- Eng 29-1 (5 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay comes on from the other end after just one over from Mathews. He makes a tidy start, giving away just four runs including a leg bye in his first over.

Roy decides to break the shackles as he reverse sweeps Herath behind point for the first boundary of England's innings.

Herath gifts Joe Root a full toss which he drives beautifully through the covers for a four followed by a single off the last ball to retain strike.

Vandersay gives Root some width as the right-hander hits it through the covers for a delightful boundary.

Roy repeats the shot off the fifth ball, hitting his second four, through the covers as England recover to 29 for one in five overs.
19:40   Hales out for a duck, England lose early wicket


- Eng 4-1 (2 ovs) vs SL | SCORECARD

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews to open the bowling and facing him is right-hander Jason Roy. Roy mishits the first ball on the leg side for a couple to get off the mark and three balls later picks another two runs through point as four runs come from the first over.

Veteran Rangana Herath to bowl the second over. The 38-year-old left-arm spinner starts off with a beauty, getting the ball to turn enough to beat the defensive prod of Alex Hales, as it bounces over the stumps.

There is a huge appeal for caught behind but the umpire rightly turns it down. However, Herath gets his man three balls later as Hales attempts the sweep but is beaten and is trapped leg before wicket for a duck. The right-hander went across a long way but failed to make the connection and was given out LBW.

New batsman Joe Root watchfully defends the last two deliveries as Herath starts with a wicket-maiden.
19:25   Sri Lanka elect to bowl in must-win match, Hales back for England


- SCORECARD

It is a do or die match for both teams as far as a place in the semi-finals is concerned.

If England win this match, they will go through, knocking out both Sri Lanka and South Africa. However, if they lose their hopes will depend on how the South Africa vs Sri Lanka match pans out.

West Indies have already progressed to the last four following their victory against South Africa, on Friday and England, Sri Lanka and South Africa are all in contention.

If England lose to Sri Lanka followed by South Africa's victory against Sri Lanka they will be out of the World T20.

A big win against England will put Sri Lanka in pole position for a place in the semis, even if they lose to South Africa in their last match.

So, everything to play for both England and Sri Lanka at the Kotla.
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19:08   Sri Lanka elect to bowl, Hales back for England
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has won the toss and elected to bowl against England in New Delhi.

England have regular opener Alex Hales back into the team, replacing James Vince. He had missed the last match against Afghanistan because of injury.
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19:03   WT20: England bank on spinners against Sri Lanka
Welcome to the coverage of the ICC World T20 match between England and Sri Lanka in New Delhi, on Saturday.

After a below-par batting performance against minnows Afghanistan, England will be determined to get their act together against defending champions Sri Lanka in a group league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20, in New Delhi, on Saturday.

It will be quite a test for the Joe Roots and Eoin Morgans as they will face quality spin bowling from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay on a sluggish Kotla track. While the match will be Sri Lanka's third league game, the England side under Eoin Morgan will be going all out to notch up their third win in a bid to qualify for the semifinals.

England, according to legendary Sachin Tendulkar's prediction, is the favourite to be among the four semi-finalists. With two wins out of three, a good win against a depleted Lankan side will not only enhance their chances of semifinal qualification but also become a cause of worry for other teams. For England, the tournament so far has been a mixed bag. On a flat Wankhede deck, their batsmen fared well in both matches.

While Chris Gayle's blazing blade saw them lose against the West Indies despite scoring 182, it was sheer brilliance of Joe Root and Jason Roy which enabled them to chase down a mammoth target of 230 against South Africa. Root, with scores of 48 and 83 in both matches, has looked in good form. But England's batting got thoroughly exposed against a much weaker but spirited Afghanistan side on a tricky Feroz Shah Kotla track in their last match. It was Moeen Ali's rear guard action that saved them the blushes against the Afghans after being reduced to 85/7.

Sri Lanka, who are going through the transition phase have found it very hard to be consistent.

Veteran opener Tillekaratne Dilshan, who is back in form, will like to use all his experience of playing on these tracks but he would certainly need to support at the other end.

To be fair, even with all his cricketing attributes, skipper Angelo Mathews has looked out of depth at times in the shortest format, which is not the case when he plays Tests and ODIs. More so, because a few players like Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedara, who have been playing long enough for the Sri Lankan side, have not transformed from being potential to sure shot match winners.

* Deferred updates in compliance with Indian laws

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