T20 World Cup T20 World Cup: England outplay Sri Lanka by 26 runs to reach semis
Sharjah/IBNS/UNI: An all round performance by England against Sri Lanka helped them to reach the semifinals of T20 World Cup 2021 Monday.
After setting 164 as target, England bowled out Sri Lanka for 137 with one over to spare, winning the match by 26 runs.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 34.
Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan picked two wickets each while Chris Woakes and Liam Livingstone shared one wicket each.
Earlier, Jos Buttler fired the first century of the ongoing T20 World Cup as his solo effort took England to 163/4 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka in a crucial Super 12 Group 1 match here on Monday.
The English opener fired a 67-ball 101* while skipper Eoin Morgan played second fiddle, scoring 40 runs off 36 balls during a 112-run stand that came after a shaky start.
Opting to field, Lankan bowlers backed up skipper Dasun Shanaka's decision by picking three wickets in the Powerplay.
Wanindu Hasaranga (3/21) was the architect of the strong start as he dismissed Jason Roy (9 of 6) and Jonny Bairstow (0 of 1) in quick succession while Dushmantha Chameera removed Dawid Malan (6 off 8).
Buttler and Morgan then paired up and added 112 runs in 78 balls to bail England out of trouble. Buttler, who was forced to check his shots after the top-order collapse, took 45 balls to reach his half century.
Once settled, the wicket-keeper batter took just 12 balls for his next 50 runs while reaching his century off the last ball of the innings.
Buttler fired six sixes and as many fours during the course of his innings while Morgan, who shot three towering sixes, fell at the fag end of the innings to Hasaranga.
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