England thrash Sri Lanka to reach final

With today’s win,England made it to the summit clash of an ICC event for the first time after 2004 when they finished as losing finalists to West Indies at home.

They will meet the winner of tomorrow’s second semifinal between Australia and defending champions Pakistan in the summit clash on Sunday.

Kevin Pietersen top-scored with a blistering 26-ball unbeaten 42 while openers Craig Kieswetter (29-ball 39) and Michael Lumb (26-ball 33) chipped in with useful contributions as England scored 132 for three in 16 overs.

With a small total to defend,Sangakkara gambled and opened bowling with slow bowlers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Ajantha Mendis but without much success.

England openers Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb got used to the pitch for a while just taking six runs from the first two overs before showing their aggressive intent from the third over onwards.

Kieswetter hit two fours from off-spinner Suraj Randiv in the third over and another boundary and six off Mendis in the next over as England took 25 runs from the two overs to reach 38 for no loss at the end of five overs.

Lumb could have been run out in the sixth over when on 11 but for a comedy of errors from Sri Lankan fielders. He set off for a run after Kieswetter sliced in the air only to be

sent back. Mendis fumbled to pick up the throw from one of his team-mates when Lumb was yards out of his crease.

Sangakkara persisted with slow bowlers but Kieswetter smote Sanath Jayasuriya for two sixes in the eighth over which forced fast bowler Lasith Malinga into the attack.

Malinga brought success immediately removing Kieswetter off his first ball with an inswinging yorker to disturb the furniture. Kieswetter struck five fours and two sixes in his 29-ball 39 and he raised 68 runs for the opening wicket with Lumb.

Sri Lanka could have got their second wicket in the same over off Malinga but substitute fielder Nuwan Kulasekara dropped Lumb when on 22. Lumb though fell in the next over cleanbowled by Thissara Perera for a 26-ball 33 after hitting the bowler for two consecutive fours.

England were 83 for two at the end of the 10th over and they needed just 46 from the next 10 overs.

Captain Paul Collingwood continued his poor form in the tournament,falling for 10 in the 15th over but Pietersen and Eoin Morgan (2 not out) ensured that there would not be any more hiccups as England cantered home with 24 balls to spare.

Pietersen,who joined the team after being by the side of his wife for the birth of their first child in London,carried his bat through the innings. He struck three fours and two sixes in his breezy 26-ball innings.

Thissara Perera was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler taking two wickets while Malinga got one wicket.

Earlier,Angelo Mathews (45-ball 58) stood tall among ruins as Sri Lanka scored a modest 128 for six.

Mathews was involved in two partnerships — 46 off 45 balls with Kapugedera for the fifth wicket and 33 off 20 balls with Thissara Perera for the sixth — which gave Sri Lanka at least something to defend.

Stuart Broad was the most successful England bowler with two wickets for 21 while Tim Bresman,Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann chipped in with a wicket each.

Except for calling the coin correctly,nothing worked for Sri Lanka as they lost their three key batsmen by the fifth over for just 26 runs.

Opener Jayasuriya was the first to go in second over with the scoreboard reading just seven. The veteran batsman,who had a forgettable tournament,edged a Sidebottom delivery for Collingwood to take a catch at second slip for just one.

One-down Dilshan (9) was aggressive from the very start,clobbering Sidebottom for a boundary from the first ball he faced. He hit another four off Bresnan but the pacer had the last laugh as Dilshan holed out to Luke Wright at the deep while playing a hook shot. Sri Lanka were 20 for two then.

Sri Lanka’s woes deepened with their best batsman in the tournament Mahela Jayawardene departing in the first ball ofthe fifth over off a beauty from Broad with the ball lifting and moving a shade away from the bat for wicketkeeper Kieswetter to do the rest.

Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews tried to repair the innings before the former was out in the ninth over for a 19-ball 16 to leave his side in deep trouble at 47 for four.

It was left to Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera to steady the sinking Sri Lankan ship and the duo batted sensibly waiting for loose balls though they did not come aplenty with the England bowlers maintaining a tight line and length.

Just when Mathews and Kapugedera looked set for a final flourish,the latter fell in 17th over,holing out to Bresnan of the bowling of Broad. Sri Lanka were 93 for five then.

Mathews and Perera then shared 33 runs from 20 balls to take Sri Lankan score past 120.