Sri Lanka set England 170 for victory

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka's batsman posted a challenging 169-6 against defending champions England in their must-win World Twenty20 Super Eights group one match on Monday.

Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 42 off 38 balls, while Angelo Mathews hit 28 and Thisara Perera made 26 not out with two sixes to lift the total in the final overs at Pallekele.

Both hosts Sri Lanka and title-holders England need victory to reach the semi-finals after West Indies beat New Zealand in a thrilling Super Over finish earlier in the day.

Sri Lanka raced to 35 by the fifth over before Tillakaratne Dilshan fell leg-before to paceman Steven Finn for 16. He hit a boundary and a six off 12 balls.

Graeme Swann then pegged the hosts back with a double strike, dismissing Jayawardene caught at deep mid-wicket off a lofted shot, and off the next ball had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind for 13.

Mathews and Jeevan Mendis (18) added a quick-fire 52 for the fourth wicket before England captain Stuart Broad dismissed both off successive balls with the score at 126. Broad finished with 3-32 while Swann took 2-26.

Sri Lanka's total was initially given as 168 after Perera was awarded one run instead of two in the final over. It was quickly amended by the official scorer. (AFP)