Cricket: England's journey to the World Twenty20 final

England's players claimed a place in the Twenty20 World Cup final by beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the semi-final Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/guardian.co.uk The path to the final began with a rain-affected defeat to the West Indies. England were beaten by eight wickets on the D/L method as the Windies reached their target of 60 runs with a ball to spare - a controversial result given that England had scored an impressive 191-5 Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Rose/guardian.co.uk Their next match against Ireland was abandoned with no result because of rain. England scraped through to the Super Eight phase of the competition by virtue of their better run-rate Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA Photograph: Rebecca Naden/guardian.co.uk Kevin Pietersen was the architect of England's six-wicket victory over Pakistan. He took an outstanding catch to dismiss Pakistan's Umar Akmal and hit an unbeaten 73 runs Photograph: Andres Leighton/AP Photograph: Andres Leighton/guardian.co.uk The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados was the next stop for the Barmy Army ... Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Rose/guardian.co.uk ... where Mark Boucher and South Africa were the victims as England won by 39 runs. Pietersen was pivotal once again, striking 53 off 33 balls Photograph: Julian Herbert/Getty Images Photograph: Julian Herbert/guardian.co.uk Having all but qualified for the semi-finals, England disposed of New Zealand in their final group game. Graeme Swann (pictured) took two wickets for 31 runs Photograph: Julian Herbert/Getty Images Photograph: Julian Herbert/guardian.co.uk Pietersen, who became a father on Monday, top-scored for England with 42 runs as they cruised to victory against Sri Lanka in the semi-final at the Beausjour Cricket Ground Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Rose/guardian.co.uk Sri Lanka's Chamara Kapugedara lost his bat at one point, and then his wicket to Stuart Broad as England restricted their opposition to 128 for six before scoring 132 for two themselves Photograph: Andres Leighton/AP Photograph: Andres Leighton/guardian.co.uk Not since 2004 have England reached the final of an ICC tournament ... their opponents on Sunday will be either Australia or Pakistan Photograph: Andres Leighton/AP Photograph: Andres Leighton/guardian.co.uk