BEN'S JUST FOURSOME

Cool, calm Stokes steers England into semi-finals as Buttler admits: He’s such a match-winner

- DEAN WILSON

BEN STOKES was hailed as the calming influence over the England dressing room after adding yet another moment of victorious drama to his career. 

With a T20 World Cup semi-final on the line, Stokes produced a carefully constructed 42 not out against Sri Lanka to steer his side to a four-wicket win with just two balls remaining.

Never before in a T20 for England had he faced as many as the 36 balls he did here – as wickets fell regularly on the way to a target of 142.

It wasn’t quite at the level of the 2019 World Cup Final, or the Headingley Ashes Test that followed soon after.

But skipper Jos Buttler was in no doubt that, but for Stokes, England would not be getting ready for a third T20 World Cup semifinal out of three.

Buttler, who will now prepare his side for Thursday’s last-four date in Adelaide, said: “Ben is a proper match - winner and he showed that in a different way.