ENG VS SL - 29th Match, Super 12 Group 1, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021

The juggernaut continues. Four big wins in four matches and England are all but through to the semis. With such a good NRR (3.183), they've almost sealed the top-spot as well. While their dashing batters steal most of the headlines, their bowlers have been top-notch in all the games. They seem to be unstoppable at the moment. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are virtually out of the race for a place in the semifinal. They put England under pressure - in both the innings - something which the other three opponents couldn't. That's a positive. Well, curtains down on this Group 1 encounter. Don't forget to tune in for tomorrow's double header. For now, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran on behalf of Nikhil Jadhav, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Vineet Anantharaman and Venky.

Eoin Morgan | England captain: I am incredibly proud of everything we have done tonight. The guys had to fight incredibly hard. Conditions here continued to change, Tymal going out asked another question of ourselves. But Livingstone and Moeen stepped up exceptionally well with the other guys. I can't fault our guys tonight. I thought Jos Buttler played one off his best-ever innings in an England shirt. It was incredible to be at the other end and watch. He is one of the best in the game and it's a privilege to have him in our team. All-round fielding effort was good. We are delighted with the four wins. Combination of unbelievable skill level and the calm nature in which he goes about it - he combines them along with reading the game. To see him in this form in the group stages bodes well for the latter stages. (On getting back to form) You always got to believe, I always do. Today was a tougher test. We were enjoying ourselves. Just to get a partnership going and put something on the board to defend.

Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka captain: The bowlers have been outstanding throughout the tournament in the first ten overs. The back end of the game has been a concern for us. This is the first WC for most players, when they gain experience, they'll do a better job. We knew that dew will play a major factor in the second half. Losing wickets in regular intervals cost the game for us. Credit to Morgan and Buttler, they showed their experience. Six months back, were not the same team. We were out of the competition, but these boys have come a long way in this tournament. I am happy with the way the boys have been fighting.

Jos Buttler, Player of the match: I think staying patient was the key (when England lost early wickets), but I managed to get a partnership with Morgan. I found it really tough early on in the innings. There was a point when we were thinking to get to the 120-run mark, but then we got going and got 160-plus. I use the same bat, even in the nets. It feels good. We were under pressure for a long part of that chase knowing that Moeen had to bowl that over (after Mills left the field due to injury) so to take that wicket (Shanaka's run-out) was crucial and I was delighted with that. Was just trying to guess where he (Chameera) was going to bowl. I was pretty calm, I think at that stage I had batted for long, so staying patient was the key and hope he (Chameera) will miss his (length/ yorker).

Harsha Bhogle: You cannot help but marvel at how Morgan has handled his bowlers today. And they have responded. This was a very tricky game.

21:43 Local Time, 17:43 GMT, 23:13 IST: Jos Buttler has a bright smile on his face as he leads his side off the field. His team-mates applaud. Batted first, lost three wickets in the powerplay, were tottering at 47/3 after 10 overs, Buttler registered his slowest half-century ... and ... most of us expected another game to be won by the chasing team. However, Jos Buttler's masterclass - slowest fifty to maiden ton - turned the tables. 163 was above-par and even in the presence of dew, England defended that. Morgan employed four overs of spin inside the powerplay and the Lankans were reduced to 40/3. England kept the lid on the scoring rate but Hasaranga and Shanaka upped the ante with a fifty partnership and an injury to Tymal Mills made matters tricky for Morgan. The Lankans needed 34 off the last three but Morgan's men held their nerve and eked out a win as SL lost their last five wickets for eight runs. Jordan was brilliant once again, Adil Rashid was economical and the Moeen-Livingstone duo did their bit as well. Credit to captain Morgan as well, he never panicked and was tactically outstanding. England out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded their opponents to win their fourth match on the trot. Stay tuned for the presentations...

Most wins as captain | In T20Is
Eoin Morgan 43 (68 matches)
Asghar Afghan 42 (52 matches)
MS Dhoni 42 (72 matches)
Sarfaraz Ahmed 29 (37 matches)
Virat Kohli 29 (47 matches)

Moeen Ali to M Theekshana, out Caught by Jordan!! It's all over! England win by 26 runs. Theekshana comes down the track, gets to the pitch and flogs this away. But he's picked out one of the safest fielders. Jordan waits at the edge of the boundary rope at cow corner and takes a safe catch. M Theekshana c Jordan b Moeen Ali 2(2)

Moeen Ali to M Theekshana, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Moeen Ali to M Theekshana, 2 runs, 84kph, Theekshana cuts to sweeper cover

Moeen Ali to Kumara, 1 run, airy ball on this occasion, Kumara comes down the track and drills back to the bowler. A misfield from Moeen allows the batters to rotate strike

Moeen Ali to Kumara, no run, round the wicket, Kumara looks to pull this length ball and inside-halves back to Moeen Ali

Abhi: "This is where inexperience comes. With such clean striking of ball and a bowler short, Hasaranga could have tried to stay till the very end and take SL home."

Lahiru Kumara, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Moeen Ali to Karunaratne, out Caught by Roy!! Holed out! Length ball at 93kph, Karunaratne stays back and backs himself to clear long-on. Doesn't generate sufficient power behind the stroke and hits it straight down long-on's throat. Roy was stationed a bit straight and he hardly had to move. Karunaratne c Roy b Moeen Ali 0(2)

Moeen Ali to Karunaratne, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Moeen Ali to Karunaratne, no run, into the wicket, straight-pulled to long-on and the batters don't take the single

Moeen Ali [2.0-0-12-0] is back into the attack

Maheesh Theekshana, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Equation: 30 runs | 12 balls. Just four runs off the previous over and that ends Jordan's spell. Another good outing - 4-0-24-2. Moeen to bowl the penultimate over. Sri Lanka have to go for the big shots in this over..

Jordan to Chameera, out Caught by Malan!! 142kph, full and angled in on the pads. Chameera flicks aerially and makes good contact but gets the placement wrong. A pretty straightforward catch for Malan at deep square leg and he gathers it calmly. Chameera c Malan b Jordan 4(4) [4s-1]

Jordan to Chameera, THATS OUT!! Caught!!