T20 World Cup: Woakes finds the boundary to send England into Group 1 of the semisICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Sydney Cricket GroundSri Lanka 141-8 (20 overs): Nissanka 67 (45); Wood 3-26 England 144-6 (19.4 overs): Hales 47 (30), Stokes 42* (36) England won by four wickets Scorecard. tables
England survived a scare to reach the semi-finals of the Men’s T20 World Cup with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Sydney.
Chasing 142 in the match to win or lose, England were 75-0 in the eighth over before a collapse of 5-36 put them in danger.
They needed 13 from 12 balls with four wickets in hand, but Ben Stokes’ calm 42 saw them to victory with two balls to spare at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A semi-final will be set up in Adelaide on Thursday, most likely against India, who must beat Zimbabwe on Sunday.
England also recovered superbly with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka to 141-8 after racing to 52-1 after five overs.
Adil Rashid stopped the scoring and claimed opener Pathum Nissanka’s crucial haul of 67 off 45 balls in return figures of 1-16 from four overs.
Mark Wood recovered from conceding 17 in his first over to take 3-26 from three, while Sam Curran was superb for his 1-27.
England’s win eliminated hosts and defending champions Australia and kept alive their own bid to win the World T20 title for a second time.
World Cup T20: England lose cheap wickets against Sri Lanka
Stokes delivers when England need him
It should have been much easier for England given the roaring start to their chase, but the pressure of the situation, combined with Sri Lanka’s clever spinners and a tired pitch, made for an unexpectedly tense finish.
When Chris Woakes clipped off-spinner Lahiru Kumara to a vocal section of England fans for the boundary that sealed victory, the relief was palpable.
Captain Jos Buttler added 28 in a thrilling opening stand with Hales, but when he picked leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga the slide began.
World Cup T20: Alex Hales gets England chasing a flyer with 47
Hales edged toe to Hasaranga, Liam Livingstone holed a long-on, Moeen Ali chipped straight to extra cover and Sam Curran hooked to fine leg.
England were also hampered by the loss of Dawid Malan – he did not bat due to a groin injury he picked up in the field – but throughout Stokes had no nerves.
Although his place in this side has been questioned after scoring double figures in six innings since being dropped in T20s, he once again delivered when England needed him most on the big occasion.
He hit only two fours but expertly picked spaces for singles and twos. When he left the field, he did so with the England fans wildly singing Sweet Caroline at this famous ground.
It means England join New Zealand in the last four and will do so with real momentum.
England bowlers bounce back after a slow start
A poor start with the ball cost England against Ireland as they let the openers slip away on the powerplay in a shock defeat that left them in that perilous position in the group.
When Nissanka was wreaking similar carnage – hitting the second ball of the match for a six off Stokes – England were on the back foot.
Livingstone took a fine sliding catch at deep square leg to dismiss opener Kusal Mendis, but needed the introduction of Rashid to stem the flow of runs.
World Cup T20: Livingstone slides in to take a big catch in the deep
He conceded just two in the sixth over before the bowlers wisely switched to a mix of slower balls and cutters.
Curran was the choice. He took the second wicket, Dhanajaya de Silva hitting a slower ball at mid-wicket, and conceded just 11 in two overs at the death.
Rashid had not taken a wicket in England’s previous four World Cup matches, but his economical spell was rewarded with the wicket of Nissanka, who mistimed high to long on.
After that the innings declined with Wood taking two wickets in the final over.
If England can perfect the start of the innings they have an attack to fear.
World Cup T20: Pathum Nissanka’s best knocks of 67
“Our best game is ahead of us,” he said
England captain Jos Buttler on BBC Test Match Special: “It was a lot more nervy than it needed to be but we found a way to get the job done.
“I still think our best game is ahead of the tournament. We’ve done enough to get through it and now it’s about going into the real knockout stage and expressing ourselves.
“Ben Stokes was there. He’s a good match-winner and he showed that in a different way today.”
England bowler Mark Wood: “I was as nervous as anything waiting to bat with the pads on. I hope my heart rate comes down.
“We’re through to the semi-final. We want to go one better this time, having gone out at that stage last time. If it’s India, it’s going to be a big game.”
Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood: “England have power throughout the batting line and great options with the ball. They have the potential to go on and win the tournament and I will be watching them with great interest.”