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Ben Stokes rose to the occasion to rescue England from a precarious position to clinch a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the must-win encounter on Saturday (November 5) as Jos Buttler-men scrapped their way to the T20 World Cup semi-finals. England's victory also brought Australia's T20 World Cup 2022's campaign to a screeching halt.
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka gave them an explosive start with a 45-ball 67 but the English bowlers roared back to restrict them to a modest 141/8.
Chasing a tricky target on a dry SCG wicket, Alex Hales (47; 30b) and skipper Jos Buttler (28; 23b) produced a ruthless opening partnership of 75 runs from 45 balls. But Stokes came to England's rescue with a resilient 42 off 36 after the batting collapse and won the match with two balls to spare.
Meanwhile, England's skipper Buttler credited Stokes for the crucial win and termed him a proper competitor.
"These kind of situations is what he's made for and I'm delighted for him. While he's at the crease, that gives you a sense of calm," Butller said a the post-match presentation.
"He can play a lot of roles. He effects the game in all three facets. He's a proper competitor. Getting to this stage of competition is where you just see him grow and grow," he further added.
The stylish opener took the English attack to the cleaners and slammed five sixes and two fours, but leg-spinner Adil Rashid (4-0-16-1) brilliantly turned it around by taking his maiden wicket of the tournament in the form of Nissanka.
Seamer Sam Curran (4-0-27-1) also bowled a tidy spell in the middle overs as Sri Lanka, who were going at over eight runs an over at the halfway mark, faltered in the back-end.
The lack of power-hitters cost the Lankans dear as boundaries dried up, and they could manage just 25 runs in the last five overs, a phase where they also lost five wickets.
England pacer Mark Wood also overcame a woeful start and hit his straps at the back end to return with 3 for 26 as England denied their opposition about 15-20 extra runs.
"They got off to a really good start, and we felt the wicket would play that way since it was a used wicket. But the way Adil Rashid got us back was wonderful.
"Lot of people look at the end product with him, he doesn't have the wickets but he has been bowling well," Buttler said.
"Sam keeps growing and growing, he's a key member of this team and he likes to be in these tough moments. I think Alex (Hales) in that one over really took the game out of Sri Lanka."
England, who finished second in the Group 1, will play their semifinal in Adelaide against winners of the second group.
"Excited to go there, we just needed to find a way to win today. Now it is time to go there and think about the semi-finals," Buttler added.
Shanaka rues injury woes for WC ouster
Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka felt his side's chances of winning the title were derailed by multiple injuries to key players.
"I think we played good cricket in patches, but we had a few injuries which cost us the tournament. If not, we could have done better.
However, the skipper said there are a couple of areas that needed improvement.
"When we go home, we'll have to polish up the areas where we didn't do well. (Wanindu) Hasaranga and (Maheesh) Theekshana have bowled well throughout, but the other bowlers have struggled, today they bowled well but that is an area we have to improve." "Catching has been a problem in this tournament, we need to go back and improve," he added.
Leg spinner Adil Rashid was adjudged the player of the match for his brilliant 1/16, which included the all-important wicket of Pathun Nissanka, who was going hammer and tonks at the English bowlers.
"I think all the bowlers bowled well, Stokes, Wood, everyone. We got some assistance (spin and seam) from this wicket, you don't get such assistance on Australian wickets.
"I felt quite good, even before the tournament I was feeling good. I did my job, was focused on it, rest is history. The pitch might spin, seam, you need to assess the conditions accordingly," he added.
