Defending champion India crashed out of the World Twenty20 on Sunday while Sri Lanka stayed on course for the semifinals but only after surviving a scare by Ireland. India lost by three runs to England at a packed Lord's, a result which left Mahendra Singh Dhoni's highly-rated team to face some tough questions over its tactics when it gets home. England, meanwhile, which started the tournament with an embarrassing defeat to the Netherlands can still reach the semifinals but needs to beat the West Indies at the Oval on Monday to stay in contention. India restricted England to 153-7 after electing to field in good batting conditions, but then fumbled its reply to be stopped at 150-5 despite scoring 56 runs in the last five overs. Needing 15 off the last three deliveries, Yusuf Pathan smashed Ryan Sidebottom straight for six off the first, but managed only a single off the next before Dhoni hit the last ball for four. Dhoni (30 not out) and Yusuf (33 not out) added 63 for the unbroken sixth wicket after half the side was back in the pavilion by the 14th over with only 87 on the board. Kevin Pietersen, with 46, top-scored for England. England captain Paul Collingwood said the boos of Indian supporters helped fire his team to victory. Dhoni admitted his team's batting performance was unforgivable after it plodded to 87-5 from 14 overs. He later apologized to thousands of disappointed fans. “We are sorry for what happened but we can say we gave our best,” Dhoni told a news conference. “I think we have the guys who can handle the pressure, it was a day when nothing really worked for us.” Dhoni said India would bounce back at the next Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next year. Sri Lanka preserved its unbeaten record with a nine-run win over Ireland. Set a modest 145 to win, Ireland was on course at 87 for one before Andrew White holed out to Nuwan Kulasekara. It was the start of a collapse that saw three wickets fall for four runs in seven balls with spinner Ajantha Mendis striking twice to get rid of Kevin O'Brien and brother Niall, who made a game 31 before he was stumped. At 91 for four Ireland was in trouble and Lasith Malinga then took two wickets in two balls to reduce it to 105 for six. But John Mooney (31 not out) kept Ireland in the hunt and off the last over, from the unorthodox Malinga, it needed 18 to win - a target that proved beyond it as it finished on 135 for seven. A fine all-round display in the field saw Ireland, which at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean beat both Bangladesh and Pakistan, restrict Sri Lanka to just 144 for nine. Only former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene's 78 prevented complete collapse in an innings where only three batsmen made double figures and the next best score was Sanath Jayasuriya's 27. “Mahela was brilliant. He's been doing this for years and he was nearly at his best today,” said Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara. Brief scores: England 153-7 in 20 overs (R. Bopara 37, K. Pietersen 46, D. Mascarenhas 25; RP Singh 1-13, Harbhajan Singh 3-30, Jadeja 2-26). India 150-5 in 20 overs (G. Gambhir 26, R. Jadeja 25, Yuvraj 17, MS Dhoni 30 n.o., Y. Pathan 33 n.o.; Sidebottom 2-31, Swann 2-28). Sri Lanka 144-9 in 20 overs (S. Jayasuriya 27, M. Jayawardene 78; Rankin 2-27, McCallan 2-33, Cusack 4-18). Ireland 135-7 in 20 overs (W. Porterfield 31, N. O'Brien 31, A. White 22; Mendis 2-22, Malinga 2-19, Muralitharan 1-13). England's women in semis Claire Taylor made 75 not out to steer England into the Women's World Twenty20 semifinals on Sunday in a 71-run win over Sri Lanka. England, the World Cup holder, made 140-7 before Sri Lanka limped to 69-8. In the day's other match Australia cruised to an eight-wicket win over West Indies. – AgenciesToday's Matches 1530 Pakistan vs. Ireland 1930 England vs. West Indies __
