Sarfraz hopes Cardiff run continues in England semi-final

Cardiff : Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed hopes the team's "high confidence" in Cardiff will stand them in good stead when they return to the Welsh capital to face England in a Champions Trophy semi-final on Wednesday.

It will be Pakistan's second key match at Sophia Gardens in a matter of days after a tense three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka there on Monday saw them into the last four of a tournament featuring the world's top eight one-day international (ODI) sides.

Pakistan, chasing a seemingly modest 237 for victory, were on the  brink of defeat at 137 for six.

But Sarfraz made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him twice with a superb 61 not out and received excellent support from Mohammad Amir (28 not out) in a decisive and unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 75.

It was Sarfraz's second impressive innings at Cardiff after the wicket-keeper's 90 on the same ground last year saw Pakistan chase down a target of 303 against England in a four-wicket win that prevented a 5-0 ODI series whitewash.

"We played the last ODI here. We win that time, we chased 300, so definitely our confidence is very high playing in Cardiff," Sarfraz told reporters after Monday's nailbiting triumph.