Yardy helps England into last four

The Sussex captain, whose talent was forged with Battle and Hastings Priory Cricket Clubs, was his usual economical self with the ball as England won all three of their Super Eights matches in the Caribbean.

Yardy took 2-19 from his four overs and held a catch as England restricted defending champions Pakistan to 147-9 in Barbados last Thursday en route to a six-wicket victory with three balls to spare.

The former William Parker Sports College pupil then scored eight not out off five balls with the bat as England totalled 168-7 batting first against South Africa at the same venue on Saturday.

He went on to claim 2-31 off four overs with the ball - his victims being Herschelle Gibbs and Albie Morkel (the latter falling to a beauty) - as South Africa were bowled out for 129 off 19 overs in reply.

Yardy went for 25 runs off his four overs as England limited New Zealand to 149-6 on Monday in St Lucia before reaching their target with three wickets in hand and five balls to spare despite Yardy falling second ball late on.

England, who came through their first round group after a controversial Duckworth/Lewis defeat to West Indies and a no result against Ireland, are due to play their semi-final against Sri Lanka in St Lucia on Thursday afternoon.

It has been a successful return to the international arena for 29-year-old Yardy, who played in six One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in 2006 and 2007.

He captained Sussex to Twenty20 Cup glory last summer which earned them a place in the Champions League Twenty20, as well as leading them to the Pro40 title and the Friends Provident Trophy final.