World T20: England v Sri Lanka commentary

England beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets As one-sided a game as you'll see in the latter stages of a global tournament. England look an absolutely awesome outfit and have demolished Sri Lanka in all departments here to deservedly cruise through to Sunday's final in Barbados. Pietersen carried on where he left off with a top-class unbeaten 42 to carry England home after Lumb and Kieswetter got the run-chase off to a fine start. As for England's bowling effort, it was one over away from perfection. Sri Lanka were terribly disappointing, but all credit to England who simply never let them into the game. Awesome. Bring on the Aussies. Or Pakistan.

Over 16 Malinga 0-0-1-1-6-4 132-3 - Malinga bowls his final over, and gets outrageously flicked over midwicket for six by Pietersen. He barely seemed to hit it, but it sailed miles over the rope. Papa Pietersen drives the last ball of the over imperiously down the ground for four. "Start the pedalo," chirps Bumble as England finish the game in fittingly impressive, commanding style.

Over 15 Perera W-4-0-1-1-1 120-3 WICKET! For no apparent reason, Collingwood slogs one straight up in the air and is caught by Sangakkara who almost misjudges it and has to get the dive out in the end. Still, it means we all get to see lovely Eoin Morgan do some batting. He's not on strike just yet, though, as Pietersen plays a delightful shot of his own with a back-cut that perfectly splits two fielders saving one behind point. Pietersen now walking jauntily down the trick with Perera barely halfway through his run-up to pick up a single down the ground. Morgan off the mark with a disappointingly orthodox cut shot that brings England's target down to 10. Pietersen wandering around again to shovel the final ball of the over into the legside to keep the strike.

Over 14 Mendis 1-1-1-0-1-0 113-2 - Sangakkara and Sri Lanka have given up here. Not even bringing men in to save the singles even though the required rate is three an over. Singles easily available, KP and Colly content to collect them.

Over 13 Malinga 2-1-1-4-1-2 109-2 - England cruise to three figures as Pietersen pulls Malinga behind square-leg for a couple. A couple of easy from full deliveries see Malinga go to the short ball again, and Pietersen helps it on its way to the fine-leg boundary with Jayasuriya too wide to do a thing about it. Collingwood times an attempted yorker nicely through midwicket and jogs an easy couple of runs. Just 20 runs required now, and an absolute age in which to get them.

Over 12 Mendis 1-1-1-1-1-0 98-2 - Andy Flower still taking copious notes in the England dugout. His 'negatives' column will be almost empty - he doesn't seem the type to fill that blank space with rude schoolboy doodlings.

Over 11 Randiv 1-1-0-1-6-1 93-2 - Hyper-confident England still determined to demolish this Sri Lanka bowling attack despite the loss of two quick wickets and a required rate barely above four. Pietersen saunters down the track and absolutely smashes Randiv into the wall at the back of the bank behind deep midwicket. That's gone 100m according to the boffins - the fourth biggest hit of the tournament.

Over 10 Perera 1-4-4-W-1-2 83-2 - Let no-one suggest Sangakkara isn't prepared to try things here. Perera is the seventh bowler deployed in just the 10th over of the innings. Pietersen punches a single to deep cover before Lumb picks up four as Mendis dives over the ball at third-man. Sri Lanka really need to cut those off. Another of Lumb's pitching-wedge shots finds the gap perfectly at cover and bounces once before hitting the boundary boards. WICKET! Good bowling this. Perera comes round the wicket to Lumb, who gets too far across his stumps and is bowled round his legs. But with less than 50 runs now required, it hardly matters and Sri Lanka barely celebrate. Lumb's done his job once again, even if he'll be mildly frustrated to once again fall short of a massive contribution. Collingwood the new batsman and immediately off the mark with a firm push into the covers, before Pietersen picks up two with a powerful drive that has the cover sweeper scampering. Kapugedera does well to save a couple. England almost 30 runs ahead of Sri Lanka at this stage.

Over 9 Malinga W-0-1-0-2-0 71-1 WICKET! Kieswetter's best innings of the tournament comes to an end as Malinga sneaks a yorker under the England keeper's bat. Fine delivery, but the start Kieswetter has given England has surely made the rest of this chase a formality. Pietersen is the new batsman with a lovely platform on which to build. He's off the mark with a single down the ground before Lumb gets a genuine outside edge that fails to carry through to Sangakkara. Drop! Lumb chips the next ball down the ground but Kulasekera, running in from long-off, can't hold on despite getting to the ball just before it hits the turf. Lumb tries to run himself out again, running one-and-a-half after miscuing the ball to mid-off, but a poor throw from Jayawardene allows him to get home. In fairness to Lumb, Pietersen should probably have responded to the call. Pretty easy run.

Over 8 Jayasuriya 1-0-1-6-1-6 68-0 - Sangakkara turns to his sixth bowling option in just the eighth over of the innings. He's gone to the wily old fox Jayasuriya. Doesn't do any good as Kieswetter goes to his favourite shot again, advancing down the track and launching the ball over extra-cover for a massive six. The speed of his footwork is magnificent, and it was a lovely clean strike. Lumb follows suit with an almost perfect mirror-image. Just looked like a chip with a checked follow-through, but the timing is perfect and the ball carries the rope by a yard. England doing this in style at the moment.

Over 7 Randiv 0-0-4-1-1-0 53-0 - The fielding restrictions are lifted, but Sri Lanka can only relax the field so far with England's required rate not a problem. Slip in place as Randiv comes on for his second over, but Lumb slog-sweeps perfectly into the gap at deep square-leg for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership. Should be a walk in the park from here. The odd slice of luck, but Lumb and Kieswetter have once again got England off to the start required.

Over 6 Mendis 1-0-0-0-4-4 47-0 - Shambolic scenes. England have two batsmen at the same end after Kieswetter slices a cut shot to Malinga at point. Lumb walks back towards the non-striker's end with an air of resignation, but is soon sprinting after Mendis fails to gather the throw. What a let-off. Everything going England's way, and Kieswetter then ends the over with back-to-back boundaries to keep England nicely ahead of the rate. The first, slapped down the ground after skipping down the track, is particularly fine.

Over 5 Malinga 4-0-0-0wd-0wd-1-0-0 38-0 - Five overs, five different bowlers. Lasith Malinga into the attack now, and his first delivery is a slower ball that Lumb hits straight back over his head for four. Not timed - batsman probably slightly deceived - but there's no fielder out there and the ball rolls into the fence. That takes England's task below a run a ball for the first time. Malinga definitely following the English example here and running his fingers across the ball here, but he's trying to second-guess Lumb as the batsman wanders around his crease and bowls a couple of wides outside the left-hander's off stump. Lumb stays still next ball, defends to mid-off and steals a single that should probably have been cut off. Kieswetter gives Malinga the charge and has to duck under a sharp bouncer. That one most certainly not a slower ball. Kieswetter sways out of the way of a short ball to end the over and wonders aloud why that particular delivery differed from the one that Broad was no-balled for earlier. That frustration may be understandable, but when he sees the replay of the lbw he got away with earlier he'll perhaps feel less aggrieved.

Over 4 Mathews 4-0-0-4lb-0-6 31-0 - No more spin, but still pace off the ball as Mathews comes on to bowl cutters with the keeper up to the stumps. He starts well, finding a genuine outside edge. But there's no slip in place and Kieswetter picks up a bonus boundary. Kieswetter then gets a huge slice of luck as he walks across his stumps and gets hit on the ankle in front of off stump. The ball's hitting the bottom of the middle stump, but Aleem Dar indicates the batsman had got right across and outside the line. He hadn't. To add to Sri Lanka's frustration, the ball runs away for four leg-byes and Kieswetter deposits the last ball of the over miles over long-off for six.

Over 3 Randiv 0-4-4-1-0-2 17-0 - Surprisingly, Sri Lanka have both their deep fielders on the legside with Kieswetter on strike. That gives him a virtual free-hit inside out over the offside, which is very much the England keeper's go-to shot. He picks up his first boundary with a slice over point and adds a second next ball with a far better-struck drive over extra-cover. Expensive start for Suraj Randiv as Lumb adds two more with a controlled chip over the infield.

Over 2 Mendis 0-0-0-0-1-0 6-0 - Spin from both ends with the new ball here. Sri Lanka playing their cards early. Mystery man Mendis is a rather different proposition to Dilshan, and he starts with four dot balls. He ends with another dot, and that's a fine first over. Good tactics from Sri Lanka this: they were always going to start with at least one spinner, but they're spot on to start with two rather than risk releasing the pressure with a paceman at the other end. Especially against this pair.

Feedback "Don't underestimate the Lankan bowling," cautions Ravi. They certainly have plenty of quality, but will have to go some to match England's effort.

Over 1 Dilshan 1-2-0-1-1-0 5-0 - No surprise to see Sri Lanka open with a spinner, but perhaps a slight surprise to see that it's Dilshan with the ball in his hand. Kieswetter takes the first ball, and immediately trots a single to expose Lumb and his perceived weakness against the twirlers. No problems first up as a push through the covers brings a couple and a deft dab to third-man brings one. Kieswetter uses his feet to pick up a single to long-on. Quiet start to the innings, but no real alarms.

Feedback Keep your thoughts on exciting England competence coming in to Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com

Fast start The openers are key for England here: if Kieswetter and Lumb can get nicely ahead of the rate in the powerplay overs - as they have throughout the tournament - the job for NDKP, Colly, Morgs and co becomes very easy.

Turnaround There'll be a short interval here as England are about 15 minutes slow completing their overs. In fairness to the bowling side, that was chiefly due to the frequency with which glove-wielding Sri Lankans jogged on and off between overs.

Sri Lanka 128-6 One horrific Bresnan over apart, that was a near faultless bowling and fielding performance from this increasingly impressive English unit. The other four bowlers all went for a run a ball or under, and only Mathews - who made an intelligent and worthy 58 - offered any significant resistance. England really should chase this down without much trouble. Should. Sri Lanka probably 30 short of par - there are no demons in the pitch.

Over 20 Sidebottom 1-1-1-2-1-2 128-6 - Excellent start to the final over from Sidebottom, with the first three balls going nowhere and yielding only singles. Again, the slower ball is the order of the day with the length the only real variation. Mathews continues to be quick between the wickets and picks up two to deep square-leg. WICKET! Mathews again tries to get back for a second run, but this time he's taking on the wrong man. Collingwood swoops on the ball, picks it up right-handed and fires in a one-bounce throw right over the bails. Kieswetter demolishes the stumps with Mathews a couple of feet short. Jayasinghe comes in and slaps the last ball of the over for two, but England have avoided any serious damage in the final over and will be delighted with that effort.

Over 19 Broad 2-1-1-0-1-2 120-5 - Sri Lanka have realised - maybe too late - just how many twos there are available on this big outfield. Perera slogs to leg and gets back easily for a second before picking up a single to deep midwicket. Mathews flat-bats the next ball straight back at Broad, who gets a painful-looking bang on the shins for his troubles. Saved a run or two, though. Swing and a miss from Perera, who is relieved to see the ball bounce over his off stump. Another well-struck heave over legside picks out deep midwicket, so brings only a single. Mathews gets two for a baseball-style biff down the ground, but just seven off the over as England regain their discipline after Bresnan's sloppy final over.

Over 18 Bresnan 4-2-0wd-0wd-2-0wd-2-2-2 113-5 - Bresnan back to bowl his final over. He's the one bowler to have gone for a few today and - for the third time out of four - his first ball is poor and disappears for four. Short and wide this time, and cracked through point. Mathews scampers two from the next ball after placing the ball cleverly into the legside. Two big wides down the legside follow, and this is undoubtedly England's worst over of the innings. Just a hint of sloppiness for the first time. Mathews again works the ball into the legside with enough pace taken off the ball to pick up two runs. Very, very clever from Mathews. Sri Lanka would already be out of this game without him. Bresnan meanwhile is really struggling. Another attempted slower ball bounces way down the legside. Mathews doing a brilliant job here, and hits down the ground twice in succession for easy twos. Another flick into the legside is impeccably placed by Mathews to bring another easy two. He's through to 50, and Sri Lanka - thanks to his batting and Bresnan's sudden attack of the jitters - now have a chance of scrambling past 130 to a vaguely competitive total. Seventeen off the over - how crucial could that prove in the final analysis?

Over 17 Broad 1-0-W-0wd-0-1-1 96-5 WICKET! The pitched-up ball is the surprise delivery here, and it does the job. Kapugedera slaps it straight to mid-off and departs for a tortured 16 that's eaten up 27 balls. The highlight of his innings was when he hoyed his bat 30 yards to square-leg. Not as good a day for the Mongoose as the six-to-win antics of the other day. Sri Lanka face a battle just to get to 120 now. Broad bowls a huge wide down the legside to left-handed Thissara Perera and this time has no complaints. Sri Lanka still struggling desperately to find anything more than singles with any regularity.

Over 16 Sidebottom 1-0-0-0wd-0-4-0 92-4 - Sidebottom now shows us his range of half-track cutters. Batsmen and umpires in close-fought battle to see who can be most deceived. Kapugedera swings and misses twice, Aleem Dar gives a wide for a ball that goes over the leg stump. Kapugedera has another swing at the next ball, and this time loses further dignity by missing the ball and losing his grip on the bat. The Mongoose sails over square-leg as the ball bounces harmlessly through to Kieswetter. Kapugedera finally manages to get bat on ball, and picks up four as Lumb is torn between going for the catch and stopping the boundary, and ends up doing neither. The partnership's now worth 45, but it's taken a long time.

Over 15 Broad 1-0-2-0wd-1-0nb-0-0 86-4 - Broad is back into the attack, and he could bowl the last three overs of the innings from this end. Broad deceives Mathews with the slow short ball that's all the rage with your modern fast bowler and is then very harshly wided for a bouncer that whistles over the batsman's shoulder. Broad again on the wrong end of the umpire's decision as he's no-balled for bowling a second ball over shoulder height in the over. Broad often guilty of petulance against umpires, but his frustration understandable here: that was another slower ball and never got anywhere near shoulder height. Despite the extras, though, still just six runs off the over.

Over 14 Yardy 0-0-0-0-4-1 80-4 - Collingwood happy to bowl his two premier spinners straight through. Wonder if he'll be tempted to give Pietersen a go, or just revert to his frontline seamers for the last six overs? Decisions, decisions. Yardy's darts are proving incredibly tough to get away here, and he starts the over with four dot balls. He then decides to offer a bit of flight, and Kapugedera takes the opportunity to crunch the ball down the ground for four. Understandable trying to tempt the batsman there, but probably the wrong option. Again, though, Yardy's produced a wonderful spell for his side, conceding just 21 from his four overs. Eight overs of spin for 41. Brilliant effort.

Over 13 Swann 6-1-1-0-1-1lb 75-4 - Huge six from Mathews, smashing Swann miles over deep midwicket. Pietersen has to ask the spectators to throw the ball back. Come on, chaps, this isn't baseball. Give it back. They eventually do, and the game continues. Swann ends with his most expensive over, but it's still a stunning spell of spin bowling: 4-0-20-1

Over 12 Yardy 1-2-0-0-1-0 65-4 - Swann bowling lovely, flighty offspin: Yardy bowling flat, left-arm darts. It's a splendid combination, and it's worked wonderfully well for England throughout this tournament. They've hustled through six overs of spin for just 27 runs. Can't really say they've put the brakes on, as Sri Lanka haven't even had the handbrake off in this innings.

Over 11 Swann 1-0-1-2-1-1 61-4 - England's fielding continues to impress almost as much as the bowling, with Mathews only just beating Michael Lumb's throw from deep point to complete what initially looked an easy two. Another excellent over from Swann: just six runs from it. England in serious danger of looking like an excellent side here.

Over 10 Yardy 0-1-1-1-4-1 55-4 - The first bad ball from an England spinner is greedily smashed behind point for four by Mathews, but there's still just eight runs from the over. Yardy shows the commitment evident throughout this England performance by sprinting to midwicket to field the last ball of the over himself and save a second run.

Over 9 Swann 1-1-1-0-1-W 47-4 WICKET! This is as good a performance as we've seen from any side in this tournament. The last of Sri Lanka's 'Big Four' is gone, a victim of the pressure England's awesome bowling and fielding performance is exerting. He tries to go down the ground for a pressure-relieving maximum but succeeds only in picking out Pietersen at long-off. Fully deserved wicket for Swann, and now Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera have another rescue job on their hands.

Over 8 Yardy 0-1-0-0-2-1 43-3 - England's spin twins in combination now. This is where Collingwood's side have consistently put the squeeze on the opposition in this tournament, and Yardy starts tidily enough as well. Just four from the over, with the fielders backing the bowler to good effect as Broad's diving save at deep midwicket saves two runs. Very, very good from England so far.

Over 7 Swann 0-1-0-0-0-0 39-3 - Spin for the first time today, and Graeme Swann is predictably right on the spot from the off. There's a bit of spin for Swann off a pitch apparently best described as 'tacky'. Cracking over of teasing offspin from Swann, just a solitary single coming from it.

Over 6 Bresnan 4-0-1-1-1-1 38-3 - Bresnan changes ends, and serves up a bit of a gift to Sangakkara first up. Short and wide, and cut away sweetly behind point for four more. Lots of responsibility on Sangakkara's shoulders here - not least because it was his decision to bat first - but so far, so good for the classy left-hander. Same can't be said for his team-mates, though, and England will be delighted with the outcome of the six-over powerplay.

Over 5 Broad W-0-0-0-0-4 30-3 WICKET! England's good start now officially a fantastic one. Stuart Broad comes into the attack and starts with a snorter that climbs at Jayawardene and jags away just enough to take the outside edge. Cliche alert: you've got to be in great form to nick those. Craig Kieswetter takes the catch at head height and England celebrate wildly. Angelo Mathews is the new batsman, and gets off the mark with a flick to fine-leg for four. But it looks like Bumble was right about the toss being a good one to lose. Very much advantage England at this stage.

Over 4 Sidebottom 4-0-0-1-0-1 26-2 - Lovely stuff from Sangakkara. Sidebottom overpitches fractionally, and the Sri Lankan captain just leans on the ball and eases it through the covers for four. About as different to Dilshan's ferocious thrashing as it's possible to get. Dreamy. An equally elegant clip off the pads brings a single, and Jayawardene keeps the strike off the last ball. England once again drag the over back after an early boundary-botherer.

Over 3 Bresnan 2-1-4-1-1-W 20-2 - The intention is clear. Jayawardene chips Bresnan over cover for a couple before dropping the ball at his feet and scampering a single. Dilshan, as he did with Sidebottom, takes a good look at the bowling by smashing the first ball he sees for four. Through midwicket this time. Not classical, but safe enough and mighty effective. WICKET! Not this time, though. Dilshan takes on the short ball but gets a big top edge that sails out towards deep square-leg. Excitable labrador puppy Luke Wright makes good ground off the rope and takes a fine catch diving forward before excitably throwing the ball into the sky. You can almost see his tail wagging. Another key wicket for England, but Sri Lanka now have their two class acts at the crease as Sangakkara comes in at number four.

Over 2 Sidebottom W-4-0-0-0-0 11-1 WICKET! Jayasuriya's poor tournament continues as Ryan Sidebottom strikes with his first delivery. Props to Paul Collingwood for having himself in at second slip to take the catch as Sanath props tentatively forward and nicks straight to him. Tillakaratne Dilshan is the new batsman, and he takes a good look at the bowling. Hethrashes at his first two deliveries, banging the first through cover-point for four but picking out mid-off with the second. Sidebottom drops his length back after that and troubles Dilshan with a short one that hints at a bit of pace in the deck. Superb opening over from Siddy.

Fence-sitting Raaj Vilkhu sees something to like in both sides: "I'd give this one to Sri Lanka, only reason being their bowling attack at the death is almost top notch...if KP and Morgan fire today, though, all my money will be on them! Great for the neutral supporter!"

Over 1 Bresnan 4-0-1-0-0wd-0-1 7-0 - Jayawardene has been in simply sensational form in this tournament, and needs no second invitation as Bresnan starts with a leg-stump half-volley. It disappears very, very quickly over square-leg to the short boundary for four. Bressie-lad drags things back impressively enough, though, with just a couple of scampered singles and wide coming from the rest of the over.

Here we go Bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds greet the players. Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya stride out to open the Sri Lankan innings. Tim Bresnan to bowl the first over.

Prediction Says Chris: "Expect England to win and Eoin Morgan to star yet again!" Ah, Eoin Morgan. I'm genuinely a little bit in love with him.

Feedback Ben Bregazzi: "My money is on England, I can't remember the last time they actually looked such a good team. With the current batting line up we should just do it! I don't think losing the toss will do us any harm." Yep, I'd go along with that. Not worried about the toss - my only concern is Sri Lanka's array of dastardly spinners in these conditions. In Barbados, England would be massive favourites. England's three Super Eight displays were as good as they've produced in this form of the game since spanking the Aussies in 2005.

Bumble has Tweeted from St Lucia: "Good toss to lose ...damp conditions ... lots of rain yesterday and early this morning."

Feedback Always keen to get your views on the action - especially when England show troubling signs of competence as they have in the Caribbean to date. Get your mails in to Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com and see your name on the interweb.

Whether the weather... There's plenty of talk of rain around and the most feared two initials and punctuation mark in sport: D/L. The good news is that there are an extra two hours available to complete a full game in the semis, so hopefully all will be well. At least England are batting second if mum nature does get involved.

No worries Collingwood has no worries about jet-setting Kevin Pietersen after his whirlwind trip home for the birth of his first child. He is, unsurprisingly, walking around with a great big grin on his face apparently.

Toss Kumar Sangakkara calls correctly at the toss and chooses to bat first. Ajantha Mendis is back in the side. Paul Collingwood says he'd have batted first too but doesn't seem too fussed. England make just the one expected change, Papa Pietersen replacing Ravi Bopara.

Welcome to the first semi-final from the 2010 World Twenty20 in West Indies. In-form England take on Sri Lanka, who beat India in thrilling style last time out. This should be fun.

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