Australia out of T20 World Cup as England beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in tense SCG clash

Ben Stokes led England to victory with a calm knock at the death.(Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)

Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup title defence is over, knocked out of the tournament after England claimed a final-over win against Sri Lanka at the SCG.

Needing a victory to qualify for the semi-finals ahead of Australia, England chased down Sri Lanka’s 8-142 with four wickets and two balls to spare to go into the final four.

After Adil Rashid’s 1-16 proved crucial with the ball, Alex Hales hit eight boundaries in his 47 from 30 to set up the chase before a mid-innings collapse of 5-36.

But Ben Stokes was able to save the day for England, with his unbeaten 42 from 36 balls keeping in control late.

The equation eventually got down to five runs from the final Lahiru Kumara over, before Chris Woakes cut the third-last ball for four with only two runs needed.

But in reality, Australia’s tournament was doomed from the moment they suffered an 89-run loss to New Zealand in their opening game.

Needing results to go in their favour ever since, Australia’s match against England was washed out and they failed to make up the net run-rate deficit to reach the finals.

Wins over Ireland and Afghanistan to round out the group stage were not big enough, with the four-run victory over the latter on Friday night highlighting the hosts’ scratchy form.

The result marks only the fourth time in the past 30 years that Australia have not progressed into the semi-finals of a World Cup in any format.

Sri Lanka offered some early hope to Australian fans when they reached 1-54 from the six-over powerplay, with England facing the prospect of needing to become the first team to win chasing at the SCG in this tournament.

Opener Nissanka Pathum led the attack, smashing five sixes in his 67 from 45 balls as he clipping deliveries off his pads and over the legside at will while also uppercutting Mark Wood over third man.

But when he was caught trying to take on Rashid, Sri Lanka struggled to find any momentum as they lost 5-25 in the final five overs.

England were then able to take control with Hales and Jos Buttler’s 75-run opening stand from 7.2 overs, before Stokes rescued England after their own collapse.

England finish second in the group and will likely face India in a semi-final in Adelaide on Thursday, provided India beat Zimbabwe in their last game.

New Zealand will likely take on South Africa at the SCG on Wednesday, assuming the Proteas are able to discard of Netherlands.

AAP