Liverpool beat Stoke 2-1 in FA Cup quarter-final

Liverpool reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Stoke. The Reds opened the scoring at Anfield after 23 minutes thanks to a sublime finish from Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker stroking the ball into the corner of the net from 20 metres. Last season s FA Cup runners-up struck back quickly, however, when former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch nodded in the equaliser from a corner. Liverpool, who won the League Cup in February, dominated possession after half-time and they got their reward in the 57th minute when winger Stewart Downing ran across two Stoke defenders in the penalty area before drilling a firm shot past goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. In the semi-final Liverpool will play either Everton or Sunderland.

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka

Bangladesh reached its first Asia Cup final by cruising past Sri Lanka by five wickets with nearly three overs to spare in a rain-disrupted match. Bangladesh will meet Pakistan in the final on Thursday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium having upset both finalists from last year s World Cup. After limiting Sri Lanka to 232 in 49.5 overs, Bangladesh was handicapped by a mid-innings downpour which reduced the winning target to 212 but increased the required run rate from 40 overs. Bangladesh s win has come as a shock for India since they stood a chance only if Lankans had won. Tamim Iqbal (59) and Shakib Al Hasan (56) hit impressive half-centuries as Bangladesh achieved the rain revised target of 212 with 17 balls to spare in the day-night match. Pakistan topped the league with nine points from three matches, followed by Bangladesh (8/3), India (8/3) and Sri Lanka (0/3). The hosts made it to the final as they beat India in the league match. Bangladesh’s good bowling limited Lankans to 232 runs, but the target was lowered to 212 runs after the rain. Yet, the revised target was even difficult since the overs, on the other side, had also been slashed to 40. Nazmul Hossain took 3-32 and Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak two wickets each to dismiss Sri Lanka for 232 in 49.5 overs.