World T20 cricket: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to reach final
Last updated on .From the section Cricket

ICC World Twenty20 semi-final, Colombo (RPS): |
Sri Lanka 139-9 (20 over) beat Pakistan 123-7 (20 overs) by 16 runs |
Match scorecard |
Sri Lanka's bowlers stifled Pakistan to give the hosts a 16-run win and a place in the final of the World Twenty20.
Chasing 140 on a slow Colombo pitch, Pakistan looked in the game at 91-4, but Rangana Herath struck twice in two balls to see them stumble to 123-7.
Earlier, despite captain Mahela Jayawardene's 42, Sri Lanka looked to be struggling before taking 14 from the final over to get up to 139-4.
They will play Australia or West Indies in Sunday's final.
That will provide Sri Lanka with the opportunity to add to their triumphs at the 1996 World Cup and 2002 Champions Trophy, as well as the chance to halt a run of three final defeats in the last five years.
In addition to losing the 2009 T20 final to Pakistan at Lord's, they were beaten in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals, by Australia and India, respectively.
Pakistan, who have never failed to reach the last four of a World T20, have now lost their last two semi-finals, but, unlike their destruction at the hands of Australia's Mike Hussey in 2010, this was a slow death.
Though 140 was the second-lowest semi-final victory target in the history of the tournament, Pakistan were choked by Sri Lankan spin duo Herath and Ajantha Mendis, who were complemented by seamers serving up a diet consisting almost entirely of slower balls.
An opening stand of 31 between Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez looked to have Pakistan on their way, but, after Nazir unluckily played on to his stumps off Mendis, the 2009 champions lost four wickets for 33 runs in five overs.
Still, they looked to be in the hunt with Hafeez at the crease, the captain lofting Herath straight for the only six of the match.
However, in his next over, Herath had his revenge when Hafeez played a horrible swipe to be stumped and, when Shahid Afridi was bowled from the next ball, the game looked up.
And, though, 16 came from the next two overs, the excellent Lasith Malinga conceded only five from the penultimate set of the match, leaving Pakistan needing 23 from the final six balls.
Nuwan Kulasekara held his nerve to put Sri Lanka into a third final from the three ICC tournaments the nation has hosted.
It was an outcome that looked unlikely as the hosts struggled during the early and middle overs of their innings.
Despite Jayawardene playing some typically eye-catching strokes, his opening partner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, was uncharacteristically subdued.
After Jayawardene fell in the 11th over, Kumar Sangakkara blasted a breezy 18, but his exit saw only 32 runs come in the following five overs.
As Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis scratched around, their departures allowed Perera and Angelo Mathews to arrive for the late injection Sri Lanka required to get up to a winning score.
Between them they took three boundaries from Umar Gul's final over of the innings, and those runs would prove to be crucial.
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Test series are all well and good but who has the time or inclination to spend 15 days watching a series that can still end in a draw.
T20 is fun, energetic and watchable, even non-cricket fans can enjoy it and that will ensure the future of all forms of the game
Its true that in the past they haven't capitalised on it but I think this year's suad is one of the best balanced teams around. 3 established world class batters and 3 very able up and coming stars. Plus a bowling line up that is a pleasure to watch.... It'll be a great final.
LordProsperity
"I think too many World tournaments is making them lose their importance. "
Personally, I don't mind how many there are. I love to watch T20 form of cricket, and I can watch it all in 2/3 hours, or can watch the highlights of a complete ODI.
What bugs me is that BBC won't spend to show these tournaments, and radio broadcasts it only on LW but my car radio doesn't have LW :(
Well done SL and commiserations to Pakistan
Pakistan have entertained, but as often happens didn't perform to potential. Their team is so inconsistent :(
Gul didn't do well in the last over of SL's innings , and Hafeez could have bowled Sohail. He had a brilliant opening spell, causing SL to play and miss. Ajmael and Raja weren't economical enough.
Dr. Cajetan Coelho
I do not know whats our Coach is doing? Why he is allowing such non- potential people to play for Pakistan.
I wouldn't say T20 was comparable to the magnificence of a really good test series, but that doesn't make it worthless.
The skills needed are different & teams like Sri Lanka & Pakistan have developed those skills while England seem to have achieved nothing but alienating their only natural T20 player.
I can't see either W.I or Australia beating the Sris on such a slow, dusty pitc
Pakistan always has problems,they can be a best team in the world if they do something about they way they go about selection of the team,why left out Razzak, why they did not played 5 spinners like they did against Australia,and fast bowlers at the end if needed.
Now they should get rid of Afridi,Malik,Tanveer,Imran,and Gul should only play in test matches bring new young players