Sri Lanka smash England

Sri Lanka eased in to a World Cup semi-finals with a abrasive 10-wicket feat over England in Colombo.

The co-hosts, by to a last 4 for a third uninterrupted tournament, will right away encounter New Zealand upon Tuesday for a place in a final.

England batted initial in Saturday’s quarter-final as well as set what appeared to be a severe sum of 229 during a low-scoring R Premadasa Stadium.

But a incapacity of Andrew Strauss’s group to force any kind of new thing shortly finished Sri Lanka’s feat a formality.

Unbeaten centuries from openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (108 not out) as well as Upul Tharanga (102 not out) guided Sri Lanka in to a last four.

It was Tharanga who struck a winning runs as well as brought up his 100 in a same stroke, pushing Chris Tremlett by a covers in a 39th over.

None of a alternative batsman were called to a double as well as with England toiling fruitlessly, they could means to leave their pads untouched.

After flourishing a little nearby misses early on, Dilshan as well as Tharanga progressed from cautious, well-timed strokes to slicing with impunity, dispatching a conflict to all tools of a belligerent as England’s rollercoaster debate eventually ran out of luck.

No mill was left unturned by Strauss as he sought desperately to save a game.

Quicks Tim Bresnan as well as Chris Tremlett, spinners Graeme Swann as well as James Tredwell as well as would-be all-rounder Ravi Bopara any took their spin with a ball, to no avail.

Even Luke Wright’s harmless middle gait perceived 4 overs, still a wicket did not arrive.

It shortly turn strong which Sri Lanka’s feat was not a make a difference of if, though when as well as how many.

Ultimately they would move up 231 with a gentle 63 balls still to come.

Earlier, Strauss won a toss as well as chose to bat, with half-centuries from Jonathan Trott (86) as well as Eoin Morgan (50) assisting England to redeem from a detriment of their openers early on.

The captain was a initial wicket to fall, bowled by soon-to-be centurion Dilshan for only 5 runs in a seventh over.

Fellow opener Ian Bell had finished many of a scoring – reaching twenty-five from 32 – though he followed Strauss only 6 balls later.

Right-hander Bell was held by Thilan Samaraweera from Angelo Matthews, withdrawal England wobbling during 3-21.

The multiple of Trott as well as Ravi Bopara steadied a ship, with a span putting upon 64 for a third wicket.

Bopara was dislodged leg prior to wicket by Muttiah Muralitharan for 31, though Morgan picked up where he left off, notching 50 runs in a fourth-wicket partnership of 91 to one side Trott.

A Matthews’ locate from a bowling of Lasith Malinga accounted for Morgan, who was forsaken twice from unbroken deliveries as well as lived a bewitched hold up via his stay during a crease, prior to Graeme Swann went for a next-ball duck.

Trott persevered, flitting Sachin Tendulkar to turn a tournament’s heading run-scorer as well as bringing up his fifth 50 in 7 innings.

England were commencement to run out of overs when a stubborn 29-year-old eventually succumbed to Muralitharan, fourteen runs reduced of a century.

Matt Prior weighed in with an dominant 22, though England’s bowling struggles would after describe their batting efforts surplus as well as magnify their exclusion World Cup run to nineteen years but a semi-final appearance.

Sri Lanka duration will be assured of removing past New Zealand to set-up a last opposite India or Pakistan.