Oct 01, Pallekele: Despite loss of early wickets Sri Lanka posted a big total of 169 for 6 in the ICC Twenty20 Group 1 match against England today in Pallekele International Stadium.

England won the toss and put the hosts to bat in the crunch match for the current champions to qualify for a semifinal berth.

Sri Lanka's opening batsmen Dilshan Tillakaratne got LBW by England's Steven Finn and Mahela Jayawardena who handed the captaincy to Kumar Sangakkara for today's match scored 42 before he was caught by Eoin Morgan.

However the middle order batsmen Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera lifted the hosts to post a 168 total for 6.

England needs to win this match if they were to qualify for semi-final.