World Twenty20 round-up: Herath spins Sri Lanka into semi-finals

The spinner rocked New Zealand in Chittagong as they set about chasing a modest 120-run total while England's nightmare winter hits new low with a final World Twenty20 loss to Netherlands in Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka bowler Rangana Herath, centre, celebrates the wicket of New Zealand batsman Trent Boult on Monday night in Bangladesh. Prakash Singh / AFP

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh // Left-arm spin wizard Rangana Herath conjured up astonishing figures of five for three to help Sri Lanka demolish New Zealand by 59 runs on Monday in the race for the World Twenty20 semi-finals.

The spinner rocked New Zealand in Chittagong as they set about chasing a modest 120-run total. He sent down 3.3 destructive overs as the Black Caps were bowled out for 60 in 15.3 overs, their lowest total in T20s. Fellow spinner Sachitra Senanayake took two for three in his three overs.

The victory gave the 2012 runners-up their fourth successive semi-final place. They play the winners of today’s game in Group 2 between defending champions the West Indies and Pakistan.

The first semi-final will be in Dhaka on Thursday. The 2007 champions India take on South Africa in the second semi on Friday, with the final to be played in Dhaka on Sunday.

Lasith Malinga, standing in as the Sri Lanka captain after Dinesh Chandimal was suspended for a slow over rate against the Netherlands in their previous match, hailed Herath.

“I trusted my spinners and Herath was unbelievable,” said Malinga. “We were waiting for an occasion like this and we pulled through. Rangana was waiting for his chance and he proved himself really well.”

It was fourth time unlucky for New Zealand who have made the semi-finals only once in the World Twenty20, in the inaugural tournament in 2007.

Captain Brendon McCullum rued their batting failure.

“We knew there was a lot of hard work to go,” he said. “It was a bit drier than we expected and Herath and Sachitra, the way they bowled was outstanding.”

Just when they needed some solid batting to overhaul a paltry total, New Zealand were found wanting with opener Kane Williamson the only man to reach double figures with 42.

He was the eighth man out and with Corey Anderson unable to bat because of a finger injury he sustained while fielding, Herath wrapped up the match with Trent Boult’s wicket.

England’s nightmare winter hits new low with loss to the Netherlands

England captain Stuart Broad said there were “no excuses” from his side for their humiliating defeat to the Netherlands in their final World Twenty20 match and said the team had let down supporters.

England were beaten by 45 runs in Chittagong after being bowled out for just 88 runs by tournament minnows the Netherlands, who made 133 for five.

Only three players, Ravi Bopara (18), Chris Jordan (14) and Alex Hales (12) got into double figures as England sunk to a new low after a nightmare winter, which saw them lose the Ashes 5-0 and lose the limited overs contests 7-1.

“It’s hugely disappointing but there’s no excuses from our side,” Broad said. “We should have won today, it was a relatively simple chase, but a shocking chase.

“It sums up our winter really ... It was pretty similar to the sort of batting we put in after we’d lost the Ashes in Australia, bit of a lack of commitment in the shots and that was a very disorganised chase.

“The players have certainly let the small amount of fans who have travelled here down, but also English cricket fans at home. If I hadn’t been a part of the game and was just watching that, I’d be looking at the batting performance and say it was complacent.”

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