Final over thriller seals Australia's World Cup fate

2 years ago 102

Australia's T20 World Cup run is officially over, aft a nervy England defeated Sri Lanka successful Sydney.

A people of 180 looked connected the cards with Sri Lanka 1/71 aft 8 overs, but they could lone limp to a full of 8/141.

England appeared to beryllium motoring to triumph erstwhile openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler raised the 50 concern successful conscionable 5 overs, but arsenic the shot became older batting became tougher.

LIVE COVERAGE: Blow-by-blow updates from SBW-Hunt combat night

Buttler's dismissal with the people connected 75 prompted a mini-collapse of 5-36. When Moeen Ali was dismissed successful the 15th over, England required 31 from 33 balls, and erstwhile Sam Curran was caught connected the bound from the last shot of the 18th over, England needed 13 disconnected 12.

Not for the archetypal time, Ben Stokes (42 not out) broke Australian hearts, arsenic helium and Chris Woakes saw England location with 2 balls to spare, and unafraid a spot successful the knockout signifier of the tournament.

Despite finishing connected the aforesaid fig of points arsenic some New Zealand and England, Australia's mediocre nett tally complaint relegated the location broadside to third. Only the apical 2 teams successful each radical suffice for the semi finals.

Australian hopes were boosted erstwhile Sri Lanka started astatine amended than 8 an over, with opener Pathum Nissanka hitting 5 sixes successful his 67 disconnected 45 balls.

There was a scary infinitesimal for Sri Lanka erstwhile Nissanka and Charith Asalanka collided mid-pitch portion taking a run, successful scenes reminiscent of Mark Waugh and Matthew Elliott connected the aforesaid crushed successful a Test successful 1996/97. Unlike Elliott, who was taken from the tract connected a stretcher and subsequently needed genu surgery, the Sri Lankans seemed to flight superior injury.

Stream each the large matches from the men's T20 World Cup, including the finals, unrecorded and escaped connected 9Now.

But their tally complaint wasn't truthful fortunate, and an innings that promised overmuch petered out, with the past 5 overs yielding conscionable 25 runs for the nonaccomplishment of 5 wickets.

"It's conscionable 1 of the problems Sri Lanka person ... that deficiency of firepower done the order," said erstwhile England skipper Mike Atherton.

"They had a cleanable start, but the deficiency of dynamic powerfulness hitting successful this Sri Lankan broadside has bedevilled them successful the past twelvemonth oregon two."

The lone antagonistic for England is what appears to beryllium a superior groin wounded for batter Dawid Malan, who near the tract precocious successful the Sri Lankan innings and would person to beryllium successful superior uncertainty for the knockout matches.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!