London: Sri Lanka will play India in the Champion Trophy semi-finals after ousting defending champion Australia by 20 runs and overtaking New Zealand in the group standings on Monday.
Sri Lanka posted 253-8 on a turning pitch at The Oval due to Mahela Jayawardene's 84 from 81 deliveries and Lahiru Thirimanne's 57.
That meant Australia needed to eclipse the target in 29.1 overs to advance, a prospect that always seemed unlikely and proved increasingly so when they lost four wickets inside the opening nine overs. However, the Australian middle order and tail fought a thrilling rearguard action to finish on 233 from 42.3 overs.
While the Sri Lankans missed a chance to edge England to win Group A, the victory delivered a double knockout in eliminating both finalists from the previous Champions Trophy in 2009, Australia and New Zealand. The Kiwis would have advanced with a Sri Lanka loss. Instead, Sri Lanka plays on Thursday in the second semi-final in Cardiff, Wales. England meets South Africa a day earlier at The Oval....
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01:13 AM, Jun 18, 2013
London: Kumar Sangakkara smashed an unbeaten 134 off 135 balls as Sri Lanka stunned England by seven wickets in a high-scoring thriller on Thursday to stay afloat in the Champions Trophy. The Islanders, chasing England's seemingly impregnable 293 for 7, launched a spirited chase in the day-night game at the Oval to surpass the target in 47.1 overs and throw open the semi-final race from group A. Sri Lanka, who...
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09:02 AM, Jan 20, 2013
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12:41 PM, Jan 19, 2013
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08:01 PM, Sep 10, 2012
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02:12 PM, Jul 23, 2012
The loss of Nuwan Kulasekara and several batting concerns leave the hosts needing a much improved show to level the series. ...
01:44 PM, Jul 23, 2012
The Sri Lankan pacer picked up a groin injury during the first ODI against India on Saturday. ...
09:01 AM, Jul 22, 2012
