4th Quarter-Final - Sri Lanka v England

Dilshan, Tharanga tons race Sri Lanka to semis

Sri Lanka beat England comprenhensively by 10 wickets. Dilshan and Tharanga both slammed centuries, involved in massive 231 run partnership that took the game away from England. Sri Lanka will meet New Zealand in Semi-final at Colombo on March 29.

Colombo: Another day of Quarter-finals, with home team Sri Lanka took on England. The finalist of 2007 World Cup were the favorites heading into the Quarterfinal against England and the fact that they were playing in their home conditions was only going to make tough for the opponent. If South Africa are to be called 'Chokers' then England deserve 'The Best Entertainer' Tag. Be it the first game against Netherland where they got over the rope marginally or the tie against India.

England skipper Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision was not backed by captain and his fellow opener, Ian Bell. While Bell seemed to feeling relatively comfortable, knicking away singles and the odd four, Strauss looked rather shaky. Sure enough he was dismissed quickly after scoring just five runs when he was bowled out by Tillakaratne Dilshan. First blood to Sri Lanka.

The very next over it was Bell who was walking back to the pavilion, although with a better score of 25 under his bat. Bell knocked a ball from Angelo Mathews to Tillakaratne Dilshan at midwicket.

With two new batsman at the crease, Jonathan Trott and Ravi Bopara were involved in partnership which proved more stable than that of England's openers, but their running between wickets was no good. Their partnership was brought to halt by magician Muralitharan after Bopara scoring 31. England were at 95/3 with just over half the 50 overs played.

Eoin Morgan joined Trott as both batsmen tried to build England innings. Morgan was lucky before he scored half-century as he was dropped twice. Morgan innings came to end caught by Mathews after a ball from Lasith Malinga.

Trott tried to accelerate but lost his wicket after scoring 86 runs, as he edged the ball to Jayawardene off the bowling of Murlitharan. With some big hits at the end by Wright and Prior, England managed to scored 229 runs for 6 from their alloted 50 overs.

Chasing 230, Sri Lanka openers Tillakratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga put their team in commandin position as both batsmen started watchfully without losing wicket. Both Dilshan and Tharanga once got set took on the opposition, much to delight of the homecrowd.

England bowlers started off well, but nothing seem to go away with England bowlers tonight. Both batsmen reach their fifty as Sri Lanka cruised to World Cup semis. England who were tagged as most entertaining side throughout the World Cup with close games, but that was not the case today.

England posed a competitive total considering previous stats. Only eight times in 49 internationals at the venue had a team batting second chased 230 or more for victory, and the most recent occasion was in 2004.

Both Dilshan and Tharanga went on to bring up their partnership of 200 runs. Dilshan brought his century in style with a boundary, his 10th ODI hundred. Tharanga brought his century in boundary as well and finished the match in style.

Sri Lanka beat England comprenhensively by 10 wickets. Dilshan and Tharanga both slammed centuries, involved in massive 231 run partnership that took the game away from England. Sri Lanka will face New Zealand at Colombo on March 29.