England reach T20 WCup semifinals, Australia eliminated

SYDNEY: England advanced to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup and eliminated host Australia on net run-rate after their last over four-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Saturday. New Zealand, England and Australia all finished with seven points from five matches in Group 1 but the Kiwis topped the group with a healthy net run-rate of 2.113. Australia paid the price for a heavy loss to New Zealand in the opening game and finished with at a net run-rate of -0.173.

England had a net run-rate of 0.473. Ben Stokes kept his composure and made an unbeaten 42 off 36 balls as England reached 144-6 in 19.4 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. Sri Lanka could not have advanced even if they had beaten England but the islanders squandered a blistering start of 52-1 in five overs before ending up at a disappointing 141-8.

“We knew we had to find a way to win the game coming here today, so thankfully we did that,” England skipper Jos Buttler said. England will face the Group 2 winner in the semifinals at Adelaide next Thursday. New Zealand will play the Group 2 runner-up at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

“We go there (Adelaide) looking forward to whoever we play at what is one of the best stadiums in the world,” Buttler said. Opening batter Pathum Nissanka braved pain on his twisted ankle and made 67 before England hit back through their spinners. Adil Rashid was 1-16 and fast bowler Mark Wood picked up 3-26 after being smacked for two sixes by Nissanka in his first over.