England Look Semis Against Sri Lanka

Pallekele: Their semifinal chances hanging by the thread, defending champions England are faced with a must-win situation as they take on unbeaten hosts Sri Lanka in a crucial Super Eight match of the ICC World Twenty20 on Monday.

England, after a win and a loss, have to clinch it against Sri lanka to have any chance of making the last-four stage.

If Stuart Broad's men lose tomorrow, it would be certain elimination as Sri Lanka and West Indies, if they beat New Zealand tomorrow, would go through at their expense.

England beat New Zealand in their previous match with Steven Finn and Luke Wright playing important roles. Finn achieved his as well as England's best figures in the ICC World Twenty20 -- three for 16 -- before Wright hit a 43-ball 76.

But Sri Lanka is no New Zealand and Broad acknowledged that his team have a tough task at hand.

Even though the batting clicked against New Zealand, the English still seem to be missing that one aggressor who can rescue them in tight situations.

The bowlers have finally got a grip of the conditions even though spinner Graeme Swann hasn't quite delivered for the team.

If the England skipper make the call to drop Kieswetter then it is a choice between Michael Lumb and Ravi Bopara to replace him.

Teams from

Sri Lanka Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tilakratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Akila Dananjaya, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Thissara Perera

England Stuart Broad (captain), Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Luke Wright, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Miachel Lumb, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann

Pitch and conditions
On Saturday, Pallekele finally showed signs of assistance to spin, with a drier track. Under lights the ball can skid through, while whoever chases will also do so with the pitch and its oldest.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first Twenty20 between the two teams in Sri Lanka
• England claimed a comfortable victory when they faced Sri Lanka in the semi-final of the 2010 tournament in St Lucia
• Six batsmen have passed 1000 runs in T20Is and Sri Lanka have three of them - Jayawardene, Dilshan and Sangakkara

Match facts
Monday October 1, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)