Intro:

Host nation Sri Lanka record 16-run win over Pakistan to reach World T20 final.

Script:

Hosts Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in their World T20 semi-final against Pakistan.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene looked in good nick, he hit 42 off 36 with some inventive strokes, but his creativity backfired when he fell to Shahid Afridi in the 11th over.

Sri Lankan wickets fell regularly - Kumar Sangakkara was out for 18, caught by Shoaib Malik on the boundary off Hafeez, Tillakaratne Dilshan made a slow 35 and Jeevan Mendis 15 as the home side crept to 118 for four with just two overs in hand.

However, Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews clubbed 21 from the last 12 balls to lift Sri Lanka to 139 for four at the end of their twenty overs.

Chasing 140 on the slow Colombo wicket, Imran Nazir went for 20, but Mohammad Hafeez looked to have Pakistan on their way with for fours and this six.

However the pendulum swung towards the home side in the 15th over - Hafeez took a wild swipe at Rangana Herath, only for Kumar Sangakkara to nick his bails behind him.

And the very next ball Herath struck again - Shahid Afridi's lazy footwork costing him dearly as the ball sailed past him and onto the stumps.

Sri Lanka restricted Pakistan to 123 for 7 in the end and won by 16 runs to reach their second World T20 final - they'll face either Australia or the West Indies in Colombo on Sunday.