Sri Lanka in semifinal beat Australia by 20 runs

Sri Lanka barged into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a 20-run win over holders Australia in the last league match at the Oval in London.

The Islanders, who needed a succeed to remain in the competition, rode on aggressive half-centuries from Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne to score 253-8 after being sent in to bat. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara then picked up 3wickets effected a run-out and took a catch as the Australia was bowled out for 233 in 42.3 overs.

Sri Lanka and England done level with 4 points each, but the hosts topped the group due to a superior net run-rate and will meet group B runners-up South Africa in Wednesday semi-final at the Oval.Sri Lanka will clash with group B winners India in the second semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday in a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai which the Indians win.

The final is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday. Jayawardene, who became the 8th batsman to complete 11,000 Top 10 ODI runs when he reached 62, anchored the middle-order with an unbeaten 84 off 81 balls. Australia, who needed to win in 29.1 overs to qualify, made a brave bid to force their 1st win in the tournament with belligerent batting led by Adam Voges top score of 49.

The Australians were 192-9 when the last-wicket pair of Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty gave Sri Lanka a fright by adding 41 amid mounting tension. Tillakaratne Dilshan ended the drama with an amazing return catch to dismiss McKay, who made a career-best 30. Doherty remained unbeaten on 15.

The fight back would have been followed keenly by New Zealand, who would have joined England in the semi-finals if the last pair had scored the remaining runs.

Score Details

Sri Lanka- 253/8 (50) 

M Jayawardena -84

L Thirimanne -57

Australia- 233/10 (42.3) 

A Voges -49

C McKay -30

G Maxwell -32

Player Of the match-M Jayawardena (Sri Lanka)