It appears even as the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 approaches the crucial end stages, even the first semi final seemed to go the insipid way as Sri Lanka went out without even a fight.
kevin pietersen michael lumb
Heavy rain overnight meant that a rather moisture rich pitch was laid out at the Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia and it was surprising that Sri Lanka decided to bat first because the England captain, Paul Collingwood, admitted to being in two minds.
But England soon had the upper hand as Sanath Jayasuriya whimpered back to the pavilion as did Tillekeratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene was livid that a ball with a greater bounce managed to take the edge of his bat off the bowling of Stuart Broad as Sri Lanka were reduced to three down for twenty-six in 4.1 overs.
England had established the ascendancy and it seemed the match was well over. Angelo Matthews did put up a lone fight, his fifty-eight runs off forty-five balls, to add substance to the affairs in the middle but really all it did was save Sri Lanka from further ignominy.
But 128 for six was hardly the score the Sri Lankan captain, Kumar Sangakakra, would have thought his team would score. And it was made to look miniscule still as Craig Kieswetter took the game to the Sri Lankan bowlers even as England lived dangerously, thanks to the largesse of the Sri Lankan fielders.
Kieswetter's thirty-eight runs was also complemented by Michael Lumb's thirty-three and Kevin Pietersen was there once more to back up the openers with forty-two runs to seal the match comfortably at the end of sixteen overs, winning by seven wickets.
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