So there we are. Three of the four semifinalists are from the subcontinent; two are hosts and both will play their semis at home. Sri Lanka went through to the last four after a resounding ten-wicket win over fellow island nation England. You can't score 230 against a team like that and expect to get away with it.
England won the toss and opted to bat. Strauss fell for just 5 early on. Jonathan trott scored 86, while Eoin Morgan, having been dropped thrice and an lbw not given, exhausted his five lives after being caught off Malinga. The Europeans scored an unimpressive 229-8 and needed Sri Lanka to go at under 5 rins an over to get the target.
A team like England's and a score like 229 cannot hold a side with longstanding openers, experienced middle-order men and tail-enders who will put on runs before ultimately departing. The aforementioned openers Dilshan and Tharanga needed no help at all to chase down the target, punishing even successful bowlers like Swann and Bresnan and not showing any mercy to the less renowned ones. They shot down the not-so-intimidating target with a good 63 balls to spare, even as the keeper-captain Sangakkara padded up, wondering when he would go in and when he realised he didn't need to, stood up and applauded the openers' inevitable centuries, the second of which was clubbed with the win.
Sri Lanka's semifinal tie is also at home, as is the anticipated India-Pakistan one at Mohali. All the teams need to do is win two consecutive games and they will lift the Cup that Counts.
England won the toss and opted to bat. Strauss fell for just 5 early on. Jonathan trott scored 86, while Eoin Morgan, having been dropped thrice and an lbw not given, exhausted his five lives after being caught off Malinga. The Europeans scored an unimpressive 229-8 and needed Sri Lanka to go at under 5 rins an over to get the target.
A team like England's and a score like 229 cannot hold a side with longstanding openers, experienced middle-order men and tail-enders who will put on runs before ultimately departing. The aforementioned openers Dilshan and Tharanga needed no help at all to chase down the target, punishing even successful bowlers like Swann and Bresnan and not showing any mercy to the less renowned ones. They shot down the not-so-intimidating target with a good 63 balls to spare, even as the keeper-captain Sangakkara padded up, wondering when he would go in and when he realised he didn't need to, stood up and applauded the openers' inevitable centuries, the second of which was clubbed with the win.
Sri Lanka's semifinal tie is also at home, as is the anticipated India-Pakistan one at Mohali. All the teams need to do is win two consecutive games and they will lift the Cup that Counts.
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