Sat, 26 Mar 2011 - Sri Lanka vs England, World Cup 2011, 4th Quarter Final Match - Bulletin

Dilshan Tharanga power Sri Lanka into semis

In what could be termed one of the most lop-sided games ever played in the history of world cup, Sri Lanka pulverized England by ten wickets in the last quarter-final of the 2011 world cup. With the win, Sri Lanka have entered the semis where they are to lock horns with spirited New Zealand on Tuesday.

The memorable Sri Lankan win was scripted by their centurion openers Tilaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga who put together an unbeaten stand of 231 runs to take the team home at canter.

Dilshan was more aggressive of the two as he carted English bowling all around the park on his way to a magnificent 115-ball 108 that was studded with ten fours and two monstrous sixes. He was named man of the match.

Tharanga, though, a bit slow in the comparison of Dilshan, played an equally momentous innings of 102 runs that saw him face 122 balls and smash 11 fours and one sky-scrapper through point.

English bowling had nothing to a show on a night that belonged completely to Lankan tigers. Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, England posted 229 thanks largely to a gritty knock of 115 ball 86 from Jonathan Trott who had held the English innings together amidst the regular wicket fall from the other end.

Trott, who walked out to bat when England were tottering at 31 for 2 in 9 overs, batted with stoic valour on his way to 115-ball 86 and was involved in two of the best partnerships of the innings – the first of which was a 64-run stand for the third wicket with Ravi Bopara(31 off 56) while the second was worth a run-a-ball 91-run stand for the fourth wicket with Eoin Morgan(50 off 55).

Sri Lankan bowling was outstanding from the word go as Sangakkara’s ploy of giving Dilshan new ball paid dividence immediately with the part time spinner choking English captain Strauss for runs before consuming him.

Though Sri Lankans dropped as many as three catches, the bowlers compensated for it with some disciplined bowling.

Sri Lanka*: 231 / 0 in 39.3 overs RR: 5.85

Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive 10 wicket win over England with both openers Dilshan and Tharanga scoring their respective centuries and putting on 231 runs for the first wicket.

The batting performance from the openers made England bowlers no more pedestrians in the field as much hyped encounter turned out to be a lop-sided affair.

Except for toss, nothing went England’s way and ended their rollercoaster in the tournament on a sour note while home team takes them to semi-final spot that they will play against New Zealand at the same ground.

Sri Lanka*: 231 / 0 in 39.3 overs RR: 5.85

Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive 10 wicket win over England with both openers Dilshan and Tharanga scoring their respective centuries and putting on 231 runs for the first wicket.

The batting performance from the openers made England bowlers no more pedestrians in the field as much hyped encounter turned out to be a lop-sided affair.

Except for toss, nothing went England’s way and ended their rollercoaster in the tournament on a sour note while home team takes them to semi-final spot that they will play against New Zealand at the same ground.

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