PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka - Lasith Malinga took five wickets to help Sri Lanka knock Twenty20 World Cup champion England out of the tournament with a 19-run Super Eights victory Monday that put the hosts safely into the semifinals along with Group One runner-up West Indies which clinched a super over victory over New Zealand. Sri Lanka piled up a score of 169 for six, the experienced Mahela Jayawardene top-scoring with 42 at the top of the order and Thisara Perera chipping in with a quick-fire unbeaten 26. Malinga, who completed figures of five for 31, removed Luke Wright, Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow in his first over and the chase was never really on despite late resistance from Samit Patel (67) and Graeme Swann (34). The holder slumped to 93 for seven before Patel and Swann lifted them to 150 for nine. Earlier, Ross Taylor's batting heroics went in vain as New Zealand crashed out of the tourney, following its agonizing super over defeat by West Indies. The New Zealand skipper hit an unbeaten 62 to tie the score and force the Super Over only to watch his team succumb to a second such defeat in the tournament. For it, Tim Southee sent down a poor super over, starting off with a no-ball that Chris Gayle hit for a six. His fifth delivery was also hit out of the park by Marlon Samuels as West Indies won the contest to earn a semifinal berth. “When the first ball is a no-ball and goes for a six, it ruins the over a lot,” a dejected Taylor said in the post-match presentation ceremony. “That's cricket, we are going home now.” New Zealand bowlers vindicated Taylor's decision to bowl first in the Group One match, skittling out West Indies for 139 in 19.3 overs. Chris Gayle hit three fours and two sixes in his 14-ball 30 while Marlon Samuels (24) and Kieron Pollard (28) also chipped in with useful cameos but West Indies managed a below-par score despite reaching 86 for three at the half-way mark. Doug Bracewell provided New Zealand with the early breakthrough, dismissing Johnson Charles and Andre Russel in his first spell before returning to remove Pollard to finish with figures of three for 31. Southee (3-21), who had removed the dangerous Gayle, claimed two more wickets as West Indies managed 53 runs in the second half of its innings losing the last seven wickets. New Zealand's chase never really gained momentum until Taylor came out to bat, hitting three sixes and as many boundaries in his unbeaten 40-ball knock to tie the score. Needing 14 runs off the last over bowled by Samuels, Taylor hit the fourth ball for a six before taking a single in the next to leave Bracewell with two to score off the last delivery for a victory. Bracewell managed a single and was run out when going for two as New Zealand finished on 139 for seven. Samuels bowled the Super Over for West Indies, conceding 17 runs and returned to score the winning runs. Scores: Sri Lanka 169-6 in 20 overs (M. Jayawardene 42; S. Broad 3-32). England 150-9 in 20 overs (S. Patel 67; L. Malinga 5-31). West Indies 139 (Chris Gayle 30, Kieron Pollard 28, Marlon Samuels 24; Tim Southee 3-21, Doug Bracewell 3-31, Nathan McCullum 2-19) tied with New Zealand 139-7 (Ross Taylor 62 not out, Brendon McCullum 22, Martin Guptill 21; Sunil Narine 3-20). One-over eliminator: New Zealand 17-0; West Indies 19-0. — Agencies
