semi finals Archives

New Zealand and England look the favourites but an India- Pakistan final will be a winner – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Pakistan may well reflect on a Houdini act that saw them scramble into the semi finals of the T20 World Cup, but their joy could be short lived against a well balanced New Zealand. The Kiwis who dropped their guard and were overrun by England after a near faultless campaign upto that stage, are still a formidable force I believe should go all the way. England and India battle for the second spot in a game that is evenly balanced and could go either way depending on whose day it is. England has been building gradually, and if Jos Butler and Alex Hales continue their consistency, are well justified in their belief they are capable if unsettling the Indians who have shown plenty of vulnerability. ...

Sri Lanka crash out of T20 World Cup taking Australia with them – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. Sri Lanka flattered, then flopped, to exit the T20 World Cup with a bitter sweet taste in their mouth and the realisation that winning the Asia Cup and competing with the best in the world was two completely different leagues. Playing a game that was crucial to Australia’s chance to make the semi finals, Sri Lanka’s batting showed early promise then folded like a deck of cards as the middle order continued their dismal form with the bat to give England easy access to the semis. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis started like a house on fire smashing the feared England attack for 39 runs off the first three and a half overs before England stemmed the tide by removing Mendis and the steady procession continued thereafter. Nissanka, 67 with ...