T20 World Cup 2022, Match 39: England vs Sri Lanka - Talking points and Who Said What?

England have qualified for the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-finals after defeating Sri Lanka in their final group stage encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on November 5 (Saturday). Chasing 142 to win, England found themsevles in some trouble, but managed to cross the winning-line in the end. 

Before listening to comments of the skippers from both sides, we look at the talking points from the game:

Pathum Nissanka the lone hero for Sri Lanka:

Despite the wickets kept tumbling around him, opening batter Pathum Nissanka completed an excellent fifty with the bat and ensured that his team crossed the 140-run mark in their allotted 20 overs. However, his innings went in vain as Sri Lanka lost the match by four wickets. 

Defending Champions Australia bow out of the competition:

With England winning their final group stage encounter of the T20 World Cup, they along with the New Zealand side are now through to the semi-final matches of the competition. Meanwhile, the defending champions Australia are now knocked out of the competition. 

Losing skipper, Dasun Shanaka said:

It was an amazing fight, but we could have done better. I think the wicket played a part in this game, even the English batters struggled in the second half. The first half was where we had to set the momentum. It was the powerplay where we didn't bowl well, they played well - specially Alex Hales. 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. When we go home, we'll have to polish up the areas where we didn't do well. Hasaranga and 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. I must thank the colorful Sri Lankan fans who support us everywhere we go.

Winning skipper, Jos Buttler said:

Didn't enjoy that match, how close it go. We just had to find a way to win that game. (On Ben Stokes) These situations are build for him, he can play a lost of roles for us in this T20 setup. 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 dosen't have the wickets but he has been bowling well. Sam (Curran) keeps growing and growing, he's a key member of this team and he likes to be in these tough moments. I think Alex in that one over really took the game out of Sri Lanka. (On Adelaide) 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.

Player of the match, Adil Rashid said:

 I thought Stokes played a magnificent innings. These sort of things happen in T20 cricket. You bowl dot balls, you take wickets and create the pressure, that is T20 cricket for you. I created a few chances, bowled well, but I think it was a great team effort. 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. Sometimes you may bowl well and feel good and not get wickets. Sometimes you may bowl not that well, but get wickets. I did my job, was focused on it, rest is history. The pitch might spin, seam, you need to assess the conditions accordingly. We get this kind of support wherever we go, hopefully they (fans) will come out in numbers in the next match (semi-final) as well.