Spin rules as England coast into second World Twenty20 final

England, the inaugural winners of this tournament against the White Ferns at Lord’s three years ago, are through to their second final and will play either the West Indies or Australia back at the same venue on Sunday.

In pursuit of only 93-8 after spinners Holly Colvin and Dani Wyatt had each taken 2-15, England were not unduly troubled to coast past their target.

Charlotte Edwards put on 32 for the first wicket with Laura Marsh, before the latter fell to a neat tumbling catch at mid-off by Morna Neilsen off Sian Ruck.

Edwards went to another good catch by Sophie Devine at point, when leg-spinner Erin Bermingham found some extra turn which meant the England captain was not in control of a cut.

Sarah Taylor had one moment of significant fortune, stumped on 18 only to be reprieved by a back-foot no-ball call against off-spinner Frances Mackay.

Taylor and Lydia Greenway put on a partnership of 40 to take England level until the left-hander reverse-swept to point just before the run chase was complete with almost three overs to spare.

New Zealand had earlier been put in to bat and Suzie Bates (0) was run out in the first over .

Her opening partner, Amy Satterthwaite, stayed until the 15th over when her useful innings concluded with a flat hit to long-on, where Jenny Gunn took a low catch off slow left-armer Colvin.

Although Anya Shrubsole conceded 10 runs when she returned for the 18th over, England remained in control and Greenway’s good outfield catch at deep midwicket saw off Nicola Browne to end a spirited stand of 26 with Katey Martin for the sixth wicket.

England could be confident already they had restricted their opponents sufficiently, and so it proved.

Sri Lanka’s spinners carried them through to the final of their home tournament, with a 16-run ICC World Twenty20 victory over Pakistan at the Premadasa Stadium.

Rival openers Mahela Jayawardene and Mohammad Hafeez top-scored with 42 on each side in this semi-final, but it was Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis who gave Sri Lanka the edge with five wickets between them after the hosts had posted 139-4.

Sri Lanka’s sixless innings was a curious affair, albeit on a slow and low surface – but Pakistan’s run chase ran out of steam against Angelo Mathews and the spinners.