Captain Eoin Morgan said England's thrilling win over holders Sri Lanka on Saturday (Mar 26) had highlighted his team's growing strength of character and boosted their confidence as they bid to become World Twenty20 champions.
England players celebrate after winning the World T20 cricket
tournament match between England and Sri Lanka at Feroz Shah Kotla
cricket ground in New Delhi on Mar 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Prakash Singh)
NEW DELHI: Captain Eoin Morgan said England's thrilling win
over holders Sri Lanka on Saturday (Mar 26) had highlighted his team's
growing strength of character and boosted their confidence as they bid
to become World Twenty20 champions.
England's nailbiting 10-run victory ensured they qualified
for next week's semi-finals and knocked Sri Lanka out in the process in
their do-or-die showdown in New Delhi.
Jos Buttler smashed 66 not out in a 37-ball knock as England posted a
total of 171 for four that ultimately proved too much for Sri Lanka
despite a brave, undefeated innings of 73 by injured skipper Angelo
Mathews.
England are now likely to face New Zealand in a semi-final
encounter in Delhi on Wednesday, with the West Indies having already
qualified from their group.
Buttler, who hit eight fours and two sixes, shared a fourth-wicket
partnership of 74 with Morgan (22) as Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to
contain a late England onslaught at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
But after having Sri Lanka on the ropes at 15 for four, they
were then made to sweat for their victory with Mathews hammering
England's spin bowlers to all corners despite struggling with a leg
injury.
Mathews hit five sixes and three boundaries in a 54-ball innings that
left England's fans with their hearts in their mouths before England
held their nerve with some tight bowling at the death.
Morgan said the close nature of the victory would help fuel
confidence among his players who are bidding to become the first team to
win the trophy twice.
It was the second England game to be decided in the final over,
coming eight days after a dramatic win over South Africa when they
pulled off a record run chase.
Their other victory in the tournament came over Afghanistan when they recovered from a batting collapse to post a winning score.
"We showed we are capable of playing both smart cricket and
aggressive cricket," he said. "I think it gives us a great deal of
confidence.
"In three of our wins we have had to show immense amount of
character. We chased down 230 (against South Africa), against
Afghanistan we put our backs against the wall early and had to come back
and fight quite hard and today was completely different.
"We were way ahead in the game and four down early and
Angelo got them back into the game. It sort of asked a completely
different question of us."
A dejected Mathews said Sri Lanka had come back strongly
from what was a desperate situation but said England deserved credit as
"they held their nerve towards the end".
Mathews admitted he had passed up some sharp singles towards
the end of his innings as he "couldn't really run as well" as he would
have liked as his hamstring was playing up and "feels pretty bad".
The Sri Lankan skipper received crucial support from Chamara
Kapugedera who hit 30 while Thisara Perera (20) and Dasun Shanaka, who
struck 15 off nine balls, helped take the contest down to the wire.
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were on the receiving off some fearsome
hitting from the Sri Lankans, with both men conceding 21 in a single
over.ROOT STUNNER
But Joe Root's stunning catch at mid-off to dismiss Shanaka
off the bowling of Chris Jordan in the 19th over proved crucial as
Mathews then began running out of partners.
With Sri Lanka needing 15 from the last six balls, allrounder Ben Stokes conceded just four runs to clinch England victory.Sri Lanka eventually made 161 for eight in their 20 overs.
England's innings got off to a poor start when Alex Hales,
back in the team after a back injury, was given out lbw off the bowling
of the veteran Rangana Herath with only four on the board.
Rookie spinner Jeffrey Vandersay was the pick of the Sri
Lankan bowlers, taking two for 26 in an economical four-over spell in
which he took the wickets of both Jason Roy and Root.
But powerful hitting from Roy, who made 42 off 39, and Root
(25) began to turn the match in England's favour before Buttler stepped
on the accelerator.
Stokes conceded just 19 runs in his four overs, while Jordan
took four wickets for 28. Liam Plunkett also impressed with figures of
one for 23.
- AFP/ec
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