Vaughan: England can still reach semis

Wednesday night's two-run defeat in the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium - after man-of-the-match Ravi Bopara was bowled off the last ball needing three to win - leaves England as firm outsiders to reach the last four for the first time since 1992.

Asked whether England could reach the semi-finals, Vaughan replied: "I think we can. It was gutting to lose but there are a lot of positives to take from the game. Not many people gave us any chance of turning up and producing a performance, but we were outstanding in the field and there were just a couple of areas in the batting we need to look at."

Essex all-rounder Bopara won the man of the match award for his superb 52 off 51 balls but Paul Nixon could also have had a case after hitting 42 off 44 deliveries, including a reverse-sweep for six off Muttiah Muralitharan, during an 87-run stand spanning 15 overs that had raised hopes of a memorable win after England were 133 for six.

Vaughan added: "The way Ravi and Paul Nixon played in that partnership was outstanding and I thought we were going to get over the line with that partnership. It wasn't to be but the players can be very proud and Ravi can also be very proud of the way he played - he's going to have a big future in the game."

Seamer Dilhara Fernando ended England's hopes of completing a stunning fightback by bowling Bopara from the last ball to spark frenzied celebrations among the Sri Lankan team.

"It was looking a long shot, but the way they played was intelligent," said Vaughan.

"They knocked it around and just hung in there and when you've got guys like Ravi and Paul Nixon in, they can hit to parts of the ground that are boundary options. We will work on the areas that weren't so good, but there were a lot more positives to take from this ground than there have been from the rest of the World Cup."

Only by winning all four of their remaining Super Eight matches, including Sunday's showdown with Australia and the April 17 clash with South Africa in Barbados, will England be confident of qualifying for the semi-finals.

And Vaughan added: "Sunday is a big game (against Australia) and they are playing very good cricket, but not many people gave us much chance of turning up and putting Sri Lanka under pressure so we'll try and do the same on Sunday but hopefully get the two points."