England have had an indifferent campaign in this world cup so far and today they travel to the cauldron of Colombo in Sri Lanka for the last quarter-final. Winners will face New Zealand in Tuesday's semi-final.
England win the toss and elect to bat first. In blazing sunshine these two sides have been warned there might be a thunder shower later. England's shambolic world cup continues in the eighth over as two quick wickets tumble. Captain Andrew Strauss is clean-bowled by Dilshan for only 5, and Ian Bell is caught soon after and suddenly England are 31 for 2.
England reach the half way stage of 25 overs with no further loss of wicket but they have had to survive a couple of umpire decisions that they have managed to get away with. However England's scoring rate is slow. Now in the 27th over and Bopara is clearly leg before wicket but amazingly requests an umpire review. There's no surprise when the umpire says, "Out!" England 95-3 after 27 overs
Sri Lanka's fielding is poor here this afternoon. Samaraweera has just dropped an easy catch from Bopara at deep point (deep point is on the boundary) and England get away with it. Another dropped catch in the 39th over, this time from Herath and England could be in command here if only they can build a few more runs.
England 165 for 3 from 39 overs
Finally Sri Lanka get their catching in order as they dismiss Morgan but not before he gets his fifty. A good score here would probably be around 240 but England are only 186-4 and there are just seven overs left. Swann goes for a duck thanks to getting his leg in the way of the wicket and in the penultimate over Jonathan Trott goes having been easily caught by Jayawardene.
England 212 for 6 after 48.0 overs
England's final two overs are power-play and they add 17 more runs to finish on 229-6. Sri Lanka's target is clear, they must reach 230 to win.
Sri Lanka Innings
Tharanga and Dilshan are the opening batsmen here. England are now fielding far worse than Sri Lanka did. The opening pairing have built up 108 runs after only 20 overs played, and it's Prior again who is guilty of the clumsy drop.
Sri Lanka 108 for 0 from 20.0 overs need 122 runs to win from 180 deliveries
Sri Lanka are now in cruise control as England simply cannot even get close to taking a wicket here. Tremlett now drops a catch while he is bowling and England look really tired here now. It's been a long and exhausting year since they travelled to Australia to win the Ashes. Sri Lanka are slowly but surely cruising towards victory here. Dilshan has cramp and a drinks break is being taken but it is a formality now for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka 186 for 0 from 34.0 overs need 44 runs to win from 96 balls
Now Tharanga has cramp too, this is amazing! He has called for a runner, who is Chamara Silva, and with both Sri Lanka's batsmen suffering cramp England are still failing to get these openers anywhere near out. Dilshan smashes a four to reach his century and England have given up this game now. They look tired and have been disappointing in every department.
Sri Lanka now 220 for 0 off 38.0 overs need 10 runs to win from 72 balls
The final runs are slammed home with ease as Tharanga joins in and gets his century too. This has been a stroll for Sri Lanka. England would not have been able to get these two out even if they were in traction. Tharanga finishes on 102 not out and Dilshan on 108 not out and Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets with 10.3 overs to spare.
The semi-finals then will be:
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Columbo)
Wednesday March 30 2011
Pakistan v India (Mohali)
England win the toss and elect to bat first. In blazing sunshine these two sides have been warned there might be a thunder shower later. England's shambolic world cup continues in the eighth over as two quick wickets tumble. Captain Andrew Strauss is clean-bowled by Dilshan for only 5, and Ian Bell is caught soon after and suddenly England are 31 for 2.
England reach the half way stage of 25 overs with no further loss of wicket but they have had to survive a couple of umpire decisions that they have managed to get away with. However England's scoring rate is slow. Now in the 27th over and Bopara is clearly leg before wicket but amazingly requests an umpire review. There's no surprise when the umpire says, "Out!" England 95-3 after 27 overs
Sri Lanka's fielding is poor here this afternoon. Samaraweera has just dropped an easy catch from Bopara at deep point (deep point is on the boundary) and England get away with it. Another dropped catch in the 39th over, this time from Herath and England could be in command here if only they can build a few more runs.
England 165 for 3 from 39 overs
Finally Sri Lanka get their catching in order as they dismiss Morgan but not before he gets his fifty. A good score here would probably be around 240 but England are only 186-4 and there are just seven overs left. Swann goes for a duck thanks to getting his leg in the way of the wicket and in the penultimate over Jonathan Trott goes having been easily caught by Jayawardene.
England 212 for 6 after 48.0 overs
England's final two overs are power-play and they add 17 more runs to finish on 229-6. Sri Lanka's target is clear, they must reach 230 to win.
Sri Lanka Innings
Tharanga and Dilshan are the opening batsmen here. England are now fielding far worse than Sri Lanka did. The opening pairing have built up 108 runs after only 20 overs played, and it's Prior again who is guilty of the clumsy drop.
Sri Lanka 108 for 0 from 20.0 overs need 122 runs to win from 180 deliveries
Sri Lanka are now in cruise control as England simply cannot even get close to taking a wicket here. Tremlett now drops a catch while he is bowling and England look really tired here now. It's been a long and exhausting year since they travelled to Australia to win the Ashes. Sri Lanka are slowly but surely cruising towards victory here. Dilshan has cramp and a drinks break is being taken but it is a formality now for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka 186 for 0 from 34.0 overs need 44 runs to win from 96 balls
Now Tharanga has cramp too, this is amazing! He has called for a runner, who is Chamara Silva, and with both Sri Lanka's batsmen suffering cramp England are still failing to get these openers anywhere near out. Dilshan smashes a four to reach his century and England have given up this game now. They look tired and have been disappointing in every department.
Sri Lanka now 220 for 0 off 38.0 overs need 10 runs to win from 72 balls
The final runs are slammed home with ease as Tharanga joins in and gets his century too. This has been a stroll for Sri Lanka. England would not have been able to get these two out even if they were in traction. Tharanga finishes on 102 not out and Dilshan on 108 not out and Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets with 10.3 overs to spare.
The semi-finals then will be:
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Columbo)
Wednesday March 30 2011
Pakistan v India (Mohali)
