ENG VS SL - 39th Match, Super 12 Group 1, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022

It was a nervy finish but England got there in the end. They'll most likely face India in the semi-finals now, but we'll have to wait till tomorrow to confirm that. Join us for the triple header Sunday, where we'll be up nice and early to kick it off with the South Africa vs Netherlands game, followed by Pakistan vs Bangladesh and then India vs Zimbabwe at a sold out MCG. For now, this is Saurabh, signing off on behalf on Nikhil, Ramakrishnan MS and Siva.

Jos Buttler: Didn't enjoy that match, how close it was. We just had to find a way to win that game. (On Ben Stokes) These situations are built for him, he can play a lot of roles for us in this T20 setup. They got off to a really good start, and we felt the wicket would play that way since it was a used wicket. But the way Adil Rashid got us back was wonderful. Lot of people look at the end product with him, he dosen't have the wickets but he has been bowling well. Sam (Curran) keeps growing and growing, he's a key member of this team and he likes to be in these tough moments. I think Alex (Hales) in that one over really took the game out of Sri Lanka. (On Adelaide) Excited to go there, we just needed to find a way to win today. Now it is time to go there and think about the semi-finals.

Dasun Shanaka: It was an amazing fight, but we could have done better. I think the wicket played a part in this game, even the English batters struggled in the second half. The first half was where we had to set the momentum. It was the powerplay where we didn't bowl well, they played well - specially Alex Hales. I think we played good cricket in patches, but we had a few injuries which cost us the tournament. If not, we could have done better. When we go home, we'll have to polish up the areas where we didn't do well. Hasaranga and Theekshana have bowled well throughout, but the other bowlers have struggled, today they bowled well but that is an area we have to improve. Catching has been a problem in this tournament, we need to go back and improve. I must thank the colorful Sri Lankan fans who support us everywhere we go.

Adil Rashid | Player of the Match: I thought Stokes played a magnificent innings. These sort of things happen in T20 cricket. You bowl dot balls, you take wickets and create the pressure, that is T20 cricket for you. I created a few chances, bowled well, but I think it was a great team effort. I think all the bowlers bowled well, Stokes, Wood, everyone. We got some assistance (spin and seam) from this wicket, you don't get such assistance on Australian wickets. I felt quite good, even before the tournament I was feeling good. Sometimes you may bowl well and feel good and not get wickets. Sometimes you may bowl not that well, but get wickets. I did my job, was focused on it, rest is history. The pitch might spin, seam, you need to assess the conditions accordingly. We get this kind of support wherever we go, hopefully they (fans) will come out in numbers in the next match (semi-final) as well.

In reply, England's openers showed great intent as well, as Alex Hales tonked the Lankan bowlers over the infield for boundaries at will. Buttler too chimed in as England were 75 for no loss after seven overs, but then the wheels started to fall off a bit. Buttler holed out to the deep, and then Hales got a leading edge back to the bowler trying to sweep. Harry Brook had another poor outing with the bat, and Livingstone and Moeen Ali also felt the pressure as Sri Lanka applied the squeeze. But like he has done so many times in the past, Ben Stokes held fort on one end. He didn't have to play any big shots, so kept rotating strike with quick running despite having a dodgy, heavily strapped leg. In the end, Sri Lanka will feel they were a few runs short, as Woakes soaked in the pressure to score the winning runs with a four through point, with two balls to spare. England weren't convincing, but they'll fight on in the semi-finals. Stick around to hear what the captains have to say...

22:23 Local Time, 11:23 GMT, 16:53 IST: What a nervy finish! It should have never gotten as close as it did, but somehow England find themselves in scripts where Ben Stokes needs to bat till the end to get them over the line under pressure. This game started off with the Sri Lankan openers coming out quick off the blocks, as Nissanka took on the pace of Mark Wood and Sam Curran, getting them off to a flyer. He lost a couple of partners but still continued to attack, getting to his fifty. Sri Lanka were 80/2 after ten overs, but then Adil Rashid bowled a really thrifty spell to get them back into the contest. Then Mark Wood came back firing at the death, to pick up three wickets while conceding 12 runs only while bowling overs 18 and 20. That comeback helped restrict Sri Lanka to just 141.

Kumara to Woakes, FOUR, short outside off, cut towards deep backward point and that'll run away to the boundary. England hold their nerve to get over the line. They will play the semi-finals!! Hosts and reigning champs Australia have been knocked out

Kumara to Woakes, no run, back of a length outside off, Woakes with a swing and a miss

Kumara to Stokes, 1 run, short pitched, run down to third-man for an easy single

Hasaranga goes off the field. Injured himself trying to stop the previous delivery maybe

Kumara to Stokes, 2 runs, pace off length ball well outside off, Stokes stabs at it towards deep cover. Couple of runs taken as the fielder fumbles

Five off the last over, and who else but Ben Stokes to try and win it. Somehow he always finds himself in such situations!! Can he get his side home?

Rajitha to Stokes, 1 run, yorker on off, Stokes flicks it towards deep mid-wicket. He will retain strike for the last over

Rajitha to Stokes, no run, wide yorker, Stokes defends it into the hands of the cover fielder. DOT BALL!

Rajitha to Stokes, 2 runs, another slower ball on off, pushed past the bowler and times softly to enable the second as long-off cuts it off

Rajitha to Stokes, wide, slower ball that misses its line, ends too far down the off side

Rajitha to Stokes, 2 runs, low full toss on leg, driven to the left of long-on. Rajapska the man who relays it towards deep mid-wicket, allowing the second run

Rajitha to Woakes, 1 run, pace off length ball, almost slower than a spinner. Woakes edges it onto his body as he tried to clip it away. Scampers for the single!!

Rajitha to Stokes, 1 run, perfect wide yorker, Stokes digs it out towards mid-off. He wanted the second and it was available had the batters reacted immediately, a slight hesitation and now Woakes will be on strike

Kasun Rajitha [2.0-0-32-0] is back into the attack