Preview: Sri Lanka vs England Quarter Final ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 match

R. PREMADASA STADIUM in Colombo is ready to host the fourth and final quarter final match of the biggest cricket extravaganza of the year, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 between host Sri Lanka and England on Saturday, March 26.
Between Sri Lanka and England, the winner of the fourth quarter finalist of the ICC Cricket World will play the first semi final of the tournament on March 29 at the same venue from the winner of third quarter final match between South Africa and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2011, it is confirmed that one Asian country will play in the final on April 2 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India and Pakistan have already qualified for the second semi final of the tournament.
Sri Lanka, who has played final of the Cricket World Cup twice in 1996 and 2007, has won the trophy once in 1996. England has played three finals of the biggest cricket tournament - in 1979 against West Indies, in 1987 against Australia, and in 1992 against Pakistan - but has never been lucky to lift the trophy.
In 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, England's journey till the quarter final was full of ups and downs. In its opening match, England won against Netherlands by six wickets. However, this match was not a cake walk for the English team.
In the next match England managed a tie against India despite being in a match-winning situation. In the next match, the English team were humiliated by Ireland by three wickets. In the fourth match, they had a morale boosting win against South Africa.
Again, in the next match, England lost against Bangladesh by two wickets and its chance to move in the next round was not looking good. But, in its final group league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, it beat West Indies by 18 runs and secured its place for the quarter final.
Sri Lanka, who is one of the favourite contenders of the Cricket World Cup 2011, won four matches, lost one against Pakistan by 11 runs, and one match it played was washed away due to rain against Australia.
Sri Lanka started ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 against Canada with a 210-run margin victory. In the third match against Kenya, the Lankans won by nine wickets. In the fifth match against Zimbabwe and sixth match against New Zealand, Sri Lanka by 139 runs and 112 runs respectively.