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 semifinal, 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 for four.

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.

Jayawardene played especially well, as he almost always does, after choosing to bat first.

The captain dominated a first-wicket stand of 63 with Tillekeratne Dilshan, reversesweeping expertly, placing seven boundaries.

Pakistan’s reply might have been minus Imran Nazir for a duck, had Dilshan somehow clung on to a tough diving chance at point off Mathews.

Instead, the first breakthrough did not come until there was 31 on the board when Nazir contrived to edge a forward-defensive at Ajantha Mendis on to his stumps.

􀁧 England’s women stormed into the ICC World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand.

England, the inaugural winners of this tournament against the White Ferns at Lord’s three years ago, will play either West Indies or Australia on Sunday.

In pursuit of only 93 for eight, England were not unduly troubled to coast past their target.