Boparafullyfocused on ‘must-win’match

RAVI BOPARA insists England cannot rely on complex mathematical equations or favours from elsewhere and must beat Sri Lanka to keep their World Twenty20 hopes alive.

Such is the compressed nature of the tournament that England find themselves firmly in do-or-die territory having played just one match — a controversial defeat to New Zealand that was settled somewhat unsatisfactorily on Duckworth-Lewis.

Strictly speaking they can afford to lose to Sri Lanka today and still retain an outside chance of progressing to the semifinals, but that would require results to fall kindly elsewhere in Group 1 and for a highly unlikely swing in net run rates.

“It is a must-win game for us,” said Bopara.

“I don’t think we know about the mathematical side of it: we have to win.

“Winning against Sri Lanka would be a big thing for us, a big confidence boost and that’s how we’re looking at it.

“The belief is still high in this team. We’ve done a lot of good things in the last few games, although we haven’t won a lot of games the boys are getting better at their skills.”

English hearts can hardly have leapt with joy to see Sri Lanka bundle out Holland in their previous fixture for a record low 39.

“I didn’t expect them to be bowled out for 39 but Sri Lanka are tough customers, especially if you haven’t played them before,” said Bopara.

Getty. Lewis Hamilton.