Rains float Sri Lanka to the final of ICC World T20 2014

With this win Sri Lanka are through to the final and will meet the winner of second semi-final between South Africa and India.

Updated: April 3, 2014 11:05 PM IST

By Aamir Salati

Rains float Sri Lanka to the final of ICC World T20 2014
Getty Images
Getty Images

Getty Images

Dwayne Smith started things exactly the way West Indies would have wanted notching 17 runs in the very first over, but spirited bowling by Captain Lasith Malinga and effervescent fielding kept Sri Lanka in fray for spot in final. Chasing 161 West Indies were 80/4 in 13.5 overs, well 27 runs short on Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) when heavens opened and play was stopped. With no further play possible Sri Lanka won the match by 27 runs (D/L method) and marched in to finals of World T20

Lasith Malinga picked two wickets in one over to see his side make things difficult for West Indies. He went past rusty Chris Gayle (3) first and then cleaned dangerous looking Dwayne Smith (17). Leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna who was in the team in place of all-rounder Thisara Perera had Lendl Simmons (4) lbw first ball and left West Indies in deep trouble with scoreboard reading 34/3 in 7.1 overs.

Man of the match from last game Dwayne Bravo looked in good touch as he kept playing defiant strokes, with Marlon Samuels struggling to score from other end, pressure crept Bravo (30) who looking to attack was caught at deep square leg by Mahela Jayawardene off Nuwaan Kulasekara.

Samuels looked uncertain with the bat as he scored sluggish 18 off 29 balls. Darren Sammy could not face a ball as heavy rains stopped the play. West Indies at that stage needed to be 107/4.

Lasith Malinga finished with figures of 2-0-5-2, while Prasanna and Kulasekara picked one wicket each. Rangana Herath went wicket less in his four overs and gave away 27 runs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka after winning the toss elected to bat. Openers Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan provided with a solid start but three back to back wickets pegged back Sri Lanka. Dilshan and Thirimanne then nudged and kept scoreboard ticking. After the two departed, Stage was set for Angelo Mathews to light up the night and his brisk 40 came off just 23 balls with a strike rate of 173.91 which pushed Lankan score to 160/6 in 20 overs. Krishmar Santokie picked two wickets for West Indies.

With this win Sri Lanka are through to the final and will meet the winner of second semi-final between South Africa and India.

Man of the Match: Angelo Mathews

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 160/6 (Thirimanne 44, Santokie 2/46) BT West Indies 80/4 (Bravo 30, Malinga 2/5) by 27 runs (D/L method) 

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