Hales storm stuns Lanka as England keep alive World T20 hopes

An extraordinary century by Alex Hales rescued England after they dropped several catches in the field as the team kept alive their bid to reach the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Hales lashed six sixes in a remarkable unbeaten 64-ball 116 in Bangladesh, the final one way over mid-wicket in the last over by Angelo Mathews giving his side victory with four balls to spare after being set a huge target of 190 in the Group One Super 10 clash.

Put in to bat at Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Sri Lanka lost opener Kusal Perera in the second over but Mahela Jayawardene (89) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (55) cashed in on some dreadful fielding to steer their team to 189 for four.

England then made a woeful start to their reply, slumping to nought for two after paceman Nuwan Kulasekara removed Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali for ducks in the first over.

Hales and Eoin Morgan (57) then produced a dazzling 152-run stand for the third wicket in 15.2 overs, dragging Stuart Broad's side back into the match with some ferocious hitting.

Earlier, Jayawardene was on nought when he was lucky to be given not out by TV umpire Steve Davis after Lumb seemed to take a good diving catch at cover.

To make it worse for England, Jade Dernbach spilled a catch offered by Jayawardene on 19 and Tim Bresnan dropped Dilshan as the Sri Lankan pair forged a 145-run partnership for the second wicket.

Bresnan gave Jayawardene another life when he spilled a straightforward catch on the boundary in the 15th over.

The previously out-of-form Dilshan unfurled the famous 'Dilscoop' in the third over, bending forward to scoop a Bresnan delivery soaring over the wicketkeeper's head for a massive six.

Jayawardene was the more fluent of the two as England struggled to stem the flow of boundaries.

ENGLAND INNINGS

Alex Hales scored a spectacular unbeaten century as England scored a thrilling six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 match in Chittagong.

Chasing 190 to win, England were in for an early shock when Kulasekara removed Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali for ducks.

Hales and Eoin Morgon revived the inning sharing a century partnership but were still way away from the target.

Once Morgan was out on 57, Hales kept scoring in boundaries and sixes as he remained 116 not out to ensure England achieved the target with four balls to spare.

His innings was studded with 11 boundaries and six sixes.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene scored a 51-ball 89 while Tillakaratne hit 55 from 47 balls as Sri Lanka posted a fine 189 for four in 20 overs against England.

England were sloppy on the field dropping a number of catches mainly due to the humid conditions.

Hales gets to his century with a powerful six. He gets 103 from 60 ball including 11 boundaries and four sixes. Eng 175-4 in 18.2 overs.

Bopara gets two boundaries off Malinga to get it closer for England but it's still a tough task as they need 23 from the last two overs. Eng 167-4 in 18 overs.

England lose another wicket of Jos Buttler as Kulasekara takes his tally to four. England's hope relies on Hales at the moment. Eng 156-4 in 17 overs.

Jos Buttler c Chandimal b Kulasekara 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Kulasekara picks his third wicket as Morgan departs. The match is heading to an interesting finish. Eng 152-3 in 16.2 overs.

Eoin Morgan c Mathews b Kulasekara 57 (38b 7x4 2x6)

Hales on 92 from just 54 balls as England suddenly look to be in the reckoning. Eng 151-2 in 16 overs.

Hales was stunning against Mendis. Three sixes and a boundary as England score 25 from the over. He has changed the calculations completely with England needing 48 from 30 balls. Eng 142-2 in 15 overs.

England need another 73 from 36 balls. Both batsmen going great guns but they need to keep hitting the big shots regularly. Sri Lanka have Malinga's two overs. Eng 117-2 in 14 overs.

The 100-run partnership of 70 balls comes up for Hales and Morgan. Hales survives after Mahela drops an easy one in the deep. Eng 108-2 in 13 overs.

Another good over for England as Morgan reaches 41 off 26 balls. Hales on 43 off 34 balls. Eng 85-2 in 11 overs.

A big over for England finally. 16 runs off it as Morgan slams two fours and a six off Mathews bowling. Eng 72-2 in 10 overs.

Superb bowling from the spinners. England need some big hits now. Partnership reaches 56 but they need to get some quick runs. Eng 56-2 in 9 overs.

England are 52 for 2 in 8 overs.

England need 143 from 78 balls. It's 11 runs per over. They need partnerships going and some big shots to keep the required runrate in check. Eng 47-2 in 7 overs.

Four dot balls followed by a boundary from Hales. Malinga has been impressive giving away only 11 runs from his two overs. Eng 37-2 in 6 overs.

A boundary from Morgan and England are 31-2 in 5 overs.

Three yorkers from Malinga before Morgan managed to sneak a boundary. Eng 24-2 in 4 overs.

Hales continues to score in boundaries. Another two fours as England reach 19-2 in 3 overs.

England recover well with Hales hit two fine boundaries through the covers. Eng 8-2 in 2 overs.

Brilliant stuff from Kulasekara as Moeen departs for a naught. He is on a hat trick but has to wait another over. England in deep trouble. Eng 0-2 in 1 over.

Moeen Ali c Senanayake b Kulasekara 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Kulasekara strikes in his first over. Lumb is clean bowled. Early trouble for England. Eng 0-1 in 0.5 overs.

Micheal Lumb b Kulasekara 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)
 
Michael Lumb and Alex Hales open for England as Kulasekara bowls for Lanka.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

A great finish for Sri Lanka. After Perera is dropped by Bopara, Mathews completes the last ball with a great six. SL 189-4 in 20 overs.

Sri Lanka are 173 for four in 19 overs.

Sangakkara is gone first ball. He could not collect that as he offers a simple catch at mid on. SL 169-4 in 18.1 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara c Hales b Jordan 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Perera fires a boundary and a six as Sri Lanka reach 169 for 3 in 18 overs. They should be looking at 190 easily.

Another wicket for England. Dilshan starts the over well with his trademark dilscoop but is gone next ball holing one to Jordan in the deep. SL 156-3 in 17.2 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Jordan b Dernbach 55 (47b 4x4 2x6)

Thisara Perera has been sent to do some hitting. SL 152-2 in 17 overs.

End of a brilliant knock from Jayawardene. It did come with some luck but nevertheless a superb innings. His 89 runs came off 50 balls including 11 boundaries and three sixes. SL 149-2 in 16.4 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene b Jordan 89 (51b 11x4 3x6)

Dilshan also gets to his half century. Things clearly not going in favour of England and wet ball adding their woes. SL 143-1 in 16 overs.

England fielding at its worst. Another drop catch from Bresnan off Jayawardene. SL 130-1 in 15 overs.

Jayawardene gets to a brilliant half century and then hurriedly reaches 60s scoring a big six. SL 103-1 in 13 overs.

Dilshan could have gone here but a high catch falls between the keeper and the fine leg player with both of them making no effort. SL 89-1 in 12 overs.

A superb over for Lanka. Jayawardene with his masterclass back to back boundaries. He reaches 45 from 29 balls. SL 83-1 in 11 overs.

Halfway through the innings, Sri Lanka are 70-1 in 10 overs. Dilshan on 32 and Jayawardene batting on 34.

Sri Lanka will look to speed up their score a bit. They have the wickets in hand. SL 61-1 in 9 overs.

The duo share the half century partnership as this time Dilshan gets a reprieve as Bresnan drops a sitter. Sri Lanka reach 58-1 in 8 overs.

Not a big over for Lanka as Tredwell keeps it tight giving just six runs. SL 48-1 in 7 overs.

Sri Lanka are 42-1 in 6 overs. Jayawardene is on 29.

Everything happening for Jayawardene here. He slams a big six and then survives after an easy catch is dropped by Dernbach. He then gets an inside edge for another boundary. A fruitful over for Lanka. SL 35-1 in 5 overs.

Jayawardene looking good gets his third boundary as he reaches 13 from 10 balls. SL 23-1 in 4 overs.

Dilshan sends the first ball of Bresnan to a six via DilScoop but after that Bresnan manages to keep him quiet. SL 14-1 in 3 overs.

Jayawardene gets his focus going as he scores a boundary off the last ball of Dernbach. SL 8-1 in 2 overs.

That was a brilliant catch from Lumb but after close review, third umpire turns it down and Jayawardene survives. It though looked like he had his fingers below the ball. England skipper Broad clearly not happy.

Early strike for England. Perera goes cheaply as England celebrate the big wicket. SL 4-1 in 1.2 overs.

Kushal Perera c Buttler b Dernbach 3 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Moeen bowls a fine over. Just four runs off it. Good start for England. SL 4-0 in 1 over.

Kushal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan begin proceedings for Sri Lanka as England open with Moeen Ali opening the bowling.

Players are out for their national anthems.

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal says they will look to put a big total on board to keep the pressure on England. While England skipper Stuart Board hopes for early wickets.

Playing XI:

England: Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Tredwell, Jade Dernbach

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Lasit Malinga

PREVIEW

England's batsmen are adequately prepared for the challenge of facing maverick Sri Lankan bowlers Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis in Thursday's vital World Twenty20 match, all-rounder Ravi Bopara said on Wednesday.

England were unfortunate to lose to New Zealand om the Duckworth-Lewis scoring method in Saturday's rain-ruined super 10 match and the 2010 champions need to beat in-form Sri Lanka in Chittagong to remain in control of their destiny in the tournament.

They face a difficult task against Sri Lanka, who are top of Group One after Angelo Mathews, Malinga and Mendis helped dismiss the Netherlands for a record-low total of 39 in Monday's nine-wicket romp over the tournament minnows.

Bopara attributed the Dutch rout to their inexperience and said England were better prepared for Malinga, whose sling-shot action makes him difficult to read, and the mystery spin bowling of Mendis.

"I didn't expect them (Netherlands) to be bowled out for 39 but Sri Lanka are tough customers, especially if you haven't played them before," Bopara told the England and Wales Cricket Board website (www.ecb.co.uk).

"I don't think the Netherlands have played much against Sri Lanka but we've seen a lot of their cricketers.

"We've played against Malinga quite a bit, we've played Mendis, we've played most of them actually, so we'll be a little bit more prepared."

Having beaten both South Africa and the Netherlands, Sri Lanka can probably afford to relax in Chittagong but Bopara knows England have no such luxury.

"It is a must-win game for us. I don't think we know about the mathematical side of it: we have to win," Bopara said.

"Winning against Sri Lanka would be a big thing for us, a big confidence boost and that's how we're looking at it.

"The belief is still high in this team. We've done a lot of good things in the last few games, although we haven't won a lot of games the boys are getting better at their skills."

Compared to other line-ups such as Australia and the West Indies, England are low on batting firepower and Bopara is aware that coming out at number six, he will be relied on to clear the ropes early in his innings.

"I'm going to face roughly between 10-20 balls, at most, batting at number six so I need to be ready to hit a six after my third or fourth ball," he said.

"I have been lying in my bed at times and thought: why don't I just hit the first ball for six? More often than not, the bowler just wants to land it on a length and hopefully get a dot, so it's probably the best ball to hit out of the park.

"It is a mental approach, definitely. But I have thought about it. You never know. I might do it tomorrow, if I get a bat."

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