England are out of the Cricket World Cup after being defeated in the knock out stages by Sri Lanka.

Andrew Strauss won the toss for his team and elected to bat together with fellow opener Ian Bell.

While Bell seemed to feeling relatively comfortable, knicking away singles and the odd four, Strauss looked rather shaky. Sure enough he was dismissed quickly after scoring just five runs when he was bowled out by Tillakaratne Dilshan. First blood to Sri Lanka.

The very next over it was Bell who was walking back to the pavilion, although with a better score of 25 under his bat. Bell knocked a ball from Angelo Mathews to Tillakaratne Dilshan at midwicket.

This left Jonathan Trott at the crease with Ravi Bopara, a partnership which proved more stable than that of England's openers, although their running looked a little risky at times.

All good things must come to an end however and Bopara was bowled leg before by Muttiah Muralitharan after scoring 31. England were at 95/3 with just over half the 50 overs played.

Trott was joined by Eoin Morgan who surpassed the run scoring of Bopari, with a good half century. He was however blessed by the luck of the Irish, being dropped twice by Sri Lanka's fielders. Eventually he was caught by Mathews after a ball from Lasith Malinga.

Although England appeared to be regaining their composure Sri Lanka proved their mettle, removing Graeme Swann with the very next ball, with the wicket going to Mendis this time.

Trott continued hitting away, but lost his wicket after scoring 86 runs. Muralithran claimed the wicket after Trott edged the ball to Mahela Jayawardene. England were at 212/6 with just one and half overs to go.

England finished at 229/6 with Luke Wright and Matt Prior at the crease. A reasonable score but dangerously low.

Sri Lanka's innings began with Dilshan and Upul Tharanga opening for the home side.

The pair proceeded to batter England's bowlers senseless, with 22 fours and three sixes between them.

England's only glimmer of hope, came when Chris Tremlett nearly caught out Tharanga, only to drop him. Tremlett went on to repeat the feat just a few overs later.

Tharanga and Dilshan having opened for their side, also finished for it, playing out all 50 overs and both hitting centuries.

The pair beat England's score of 229 with 10 of the 50 overs still to play, when Tharanga hit an excellent four through the covers. Sri Lanka finished on 231/0 and will go on to play New Zealand in the semi finals. England will be coming home.