Sri Lanka vs England, T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights: ENG qualify for semis after tense 4-wicket win over SL

Defending champions and hosts Australia have been knocked out. Woakes cuts the fourth ball of the last over past backward point and roars in delight. England have gotten over the line at last. Ben Stokes ends the game unbeaten on 42 off 36. There may be question marks over his place in this batting lineup but whenever England need an escape of some sorts, it is Stokes who provides it. He played the situation perfectly in the last two overs, knocking the ball to empty areas of the field and running hard to convert the singles into doubles. If Dawid Malan is not able to turn up for England in the semi-finals, there is no doubt that Stokes has to take up that No.3 spot. 

Stokes will be on strike, maybe England can breath easy now. A dot ball and a single to end that over. 

The target comes down to six, Stokes timing the ball beautifully, judging it perfectly when the third ball of the over went wide. There have been runs off all four balls of the over thus far. 

Ben Stokes is on 33 off 29, Chris Woakes walks in. Dawid Malan is still in the hut, remember but he is injured. It means he won't be able to run around and taking those singles would be England's preferred mode of scoring. They need 13 to win off 12. 

Another excellent catch, Sri Lanka have been impeccable in the field today, England are sliding. Slow bouncer from Lahiru Kumara, Curran pulls away and Rajitha takes a sharp catch right at the ropes up at fine leg. Now then, are England really going to make a mess of this?

Curran c Rajitha b Kumara 6 (11), England 129/6 in 18 overs

Well, it looked like this will be a cakewalk for England, especially after that opening stand. It has turned out to be anything but that. All eyes are now on Ben Stokes and Sam Curran. They don't need to bash it here, England need just 21 to win from 24 balls. 

How about that! England are falling in a heap! Moeen takes a poke at this fullish length ball that gripped in the pitch a little. Hits it straight to extra cover. 

Moeen Ali c Shanaka b DM de Silva 1 (5), England 111/5 in 14.3 overs

Now England are just throwing it away. Livingstone tries to smash it over the bowler's head, ends up coming off the toe end of the bat and he is caught at long-on. 

Livingstone c Dhananjaya b Lahiru 4 (6), England 106/4 in 13.1 overs

That is sharp work from Dhananjaya de Silva. He goes full on leg stump and Brook chops it low back to the bowler. Dhananjaya goes down in his follow through and clings on to a brilliant low catch.  

Brook c & b Dhananjaya 4 (5), England 93/3 in 11 overs

Stokes in the middle with Harry Brook. No better chance than this for Stokes to reverse this poor run of form with the bat. England need 56 to win from 60. 

Oh, he has totally messed that up and spooned it to Hasaranga. He goes for a slog sweep off this tossed up ball, too early to it and he cue ends the ball to Hasaranga. How about that.

Hales c & b Hasaranga 47(30), England 82/2 in 9.1 overs

Buttler doesn't really middle this hit across the line against Hasaranga. Karunaratne is in play and he runs accross and dives to complete the catch. The opening stand ends on 75. 

Buttler c Karunaratne b Hasaranga 28 (23), England 75/1 in 7.2 overs

That over has gone 2, 6, 4, 4, dot, 4. England have scored 70 runs in the powerplay, the most by any team in this period throughout this tournament. 

Hales takes a swing at the next ball, misses it and it is just the wicketkeeper who appeals. Umpire gives not out but Shanaka goes for a review. The ball went quite close to the bat and its toe end also hit the ground at the same time so there was a bit of a doubt there but the umpire's decision is held up. 

Hales has gone 6, 4, 4. This latest one is a full toss that is whipped off the pads to the boundary. England are 66/0 in 5.4 overs chasing a target of 142. They are flying, to say the least. 

The next ball, slower one from Rajitha and Hales sends it over long-on for four. He is looking unstoppable. 

Hales slams the second ball of the sixth over through the line and the ball goes 77m into the crowd over mid-off. That is some shot, England are absolutely cruising along. 

Buttler smacks Hasaranga over long-on for the first maximum of the England innings. He hit a four through the covers off the previous ball and they are now 50/0 in 5 overs. 

And a no ball as well from Lahiru Kumara! England doing it easy at the moment. Hales first sends the third ball of the third over straight over the bowler's head, full extention of the drive and it takes a bounce before going to the boundary. Then Lahiru sends it in too full and straight and Hales whips it off the pads. 

Full and quick from Theekshana and Buttler on to it like a rash. Leans into it and smacks it past the fielder at mid-off. 

Hales gets another boundary off the second last ball of the over and that makes 12 from it. Good start for England. 

Back of a length from Kasun Rajitha for the fourth ball of the second over and it is powered by Hales over mid-off for four. 

Jos Buttler facing up with Alex Hales at the other end. Maheesh Theekshana bowls the first over for Sri Lanka. England need to score 142 to qualify for the semis. 

“They got off to a good start, but we came back strong, we stuck to our strengths. They were going well (in the powerplay), but that's T20 cricket, things can change very quickly. These conditions have been slow as compared to the other grounds, but we have to adapt quickly. I work hard in the nets, sometimes I bowl well, sometimes not so. Hopefully we can do well as a team. It's a big second innings for us, hopefully we'll be able to come out and chase it down.”

Three wickets in the last over, one run out and two catches. Just 25 runs for five wickets in the death overs, expertly done by England in the end, completely turned the tables on the batting side. This is the lowest total by a team batting first at the SCG and Sri Lanka looked good to get to around 180 before the last four overs.