Sri Lanka opted to bat in a do-or-die match for England. Before this match, teams batting first had won all the games at the SCG at the T20 WC 2022. (Image: AP)
Pathum Nissanka was in sublime hitting form as he scored his second fifty of the tournament. He kept smashing the bowlers in his 45-ball 67 as wickets kept tumbling on the other end. (Image: AP)
Liam Livingstone took a brilliant sliding catch at the boundary to dismiss Kusal Mendis (18), who gave a quick start to Sri Lanka along with Nissanka. (Image: AP)
Bhanuka Rajapaksa was the second highest scorer for Sri Lanka with a run-ball-22. But majorly apart from Nissanka, it was a lacklustre batting performance from Sri Lanka, which eventually let them down. (Image: AP)
Excellent bowling from Mark Wood (3/26) and Co. at the death restricted Sri Lanka to 141/8 after 20 overs, when they looked set to reach around 180. The Lankans could only manage 25 runs in the last 5 overs. Pretty much sums up the end result! (Image: AP)
Alex Hales was in rollicking form at the top as he took the Lankan bowlers to the cleaners at the SCG. He smashed 47 off 30. (Image: AP)
Skipper Jos Buttler took some time before he upped the ante but he and Hales gave England a flying start as they shared a 75-run opening stand. (Image: AP)
But Wanindu Hasaranga (2/23) dismissed both the openers and gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope. (Image: AP)
Off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva (2/24) and Lahiru Kumara (2/24) also chipped in with wickets as the England middle order crumbled under pressure and made life difficult for themselves. (Image: AP)
However, Ben Stokes (42* off 36), batting at No. 3 due to a groin injury to Dawid Malan, batted sensibly and held his nerve to take England to a 4-wicket victory. (Image: AP)
The win meant that Australia were knocked out of the tournament as England made it to the third successive semifinal at the T20 World Cup. (Image: AP)