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SYDNEY: England captain Jos Buttler is delighted Ben Stokes found its form as the T20 World Cup approaches the business end and says that the versatile man can play many roles in the side thanks to his talent.
After an underwhelming tournament so far, Stokes held his nerve through a middle-order collapse to lead England into the semi-finals with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka here on Saturday.
After a solid start by Buttler and Alex Hales, England’s batsmen lost the plot with half the side at the back of the dugout, largely due to mystery spinner Wanindu Hasaranga before Stokes took the former champions over the line.
“These kinds of situations are what he’s made for and I’m delighted for him. When he’s on the mark, it gives you a sense of calm,” Butller said during the post-match presentation.
“He can play a lot of roles. He executes the game in all three facets. He’s a proper competitor. To get to this stage of competition is where you just see him grow and grow.”
Sri Lanka were on a flyer on the back of Pathum Nissanka’s blistering fifty, before England’s bowlers roared back to restrict the Asia Cup champions below 150.
“They started really well and we felt the wicket would play that way as it was a used wicket. But the way Adil Rashid got us back was great.
“A lot of people look at the end product with him, he doesn’t have the wickets, but he bowled well.”
Youngster Sam Curran has been sensational at the death for England throughout the tournament, and the captain was full of praise for pacer and opener Hales.
“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 Group 1, will play their semi-final in Adelaide against the winners of the second group.
“Excited to go there, we just had to find a way to win today. Now it’s time to go there and think about the semi-finals,” Buttler added.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka felt his side’s chances of winning the title had been derailed by several injuries to key players.
“I think we played good cricket in coals 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 few areas that need improvement.
“When we go home we will have to sharpen up the areas where we didn’t do well. (Wanindu) Hasaranga and (Maheesh) Theekshana bowled well throughout but the other bowlers struggled, today they bowled well but that is an area we need to improve.”
“Catching has been a problem in this tournament, we have 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, which bowled the English bowlers.
“I think all the bowlers bowled well, Stokes, Wood, everybody. We got some assistance (spin and seam) from this wicket, you don’t get that kind of assistance on Australian wickets.
“I felt pretty good, even before the tournament I felt good. I did my job, was focused on it, rest is history. The table might turn, seam, you have to assess the conditions accordingly,” he added.
After an underwhelming tournament so far, Stokes held his nerve through a middle-order collapse to lead England into the semi-finals with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka here on Saturday.
After a solid start by Buttler and Alex Hales, England’s batsmen lost the plot with half the side at the back of the dugout, largely due to mystery spinner Wanindu Hasaranga before Stokes took the former champions over the line.
“These kinds of situations are what he’s made for and I’m delighted for him. When he’s on the mark, it gives you a sense of calm,” Butller said during the post-match presentation.
“He can play a lot of roles. He executes the game in all three facets. He’s a proper competitor. To get to this stage of competition is where you just see him grow and grow.”
Sri Lanka were on a flyer on the back of Pathum Nissanka’s blistering fifty, before England’s bowlers roared back to restrict the Asia Cup champions below 150.
“They started really well and we felt the wicket would play that way as it was a used wicket. But the way Adil Rashid got us back was great.
“A lot of people look at the end product with him, he doesn’t have the wickets, but he bowled well.”
Youngster Sam Curran has been sensational at the death for England throughout the tournament, and the captain was full of praise for pacer and opener Hales.
“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 Group 1, will play their semi-final in Adelaide against the winners of the second group.
“Excited to go there, we just had to find a way to win today. Now it’s time to go there and think about the semi-finals,” Buttler added.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka felt his side’s chances of winning the title had been derailed by several injuries to key players.
“I think we played good cricket in coals 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 few areas that need improvement.
“When we go home we will have to sharpen up the areas where we didn’t do well. (Wanindu) Hasaranga and (Maheesh) Theekshana bowled well throughout but the other bowlers struggled, today they bowled well but that is an area we need to improve.”
“Catching has been a problem in this tournament, we have 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, which bowled the English bowlers.
“I think all the bowlers bowled well, Stokes, Wood, everybody. We got some assistance (spin and seam) from this wicket, you don’t get that kind of assistance on Australian wickets.
“I felt pretty good, even before the tournament I felt good. I did my job, was focused on it, rest is history. The table might turn, seam, you have to assess the conditions accordingly,” he added.
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