(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) West indies who would have needed 108 to win on the d/l method were 80-4 when play was halted
Sri lankan batsman angelo mathews hits a boundary during the icc world twenty20 first semi-final on thursday. —afp
Sri lanka reached the final of the world twenty20 with a 27-run win over west indies the defending champions after the first semi-final was ended by rain on thursday. chasing 161 for victory against the team they beat in the final of the 2012 tournament west indies were 80 for four in 13.5 overs when the players were forced off by a hailstorm and a wet outfield prevented any further action in the semi-final.
West indies who would have needed 108 to win on the d/l method were 80-4 when play was halted. the win was sweet revenge for sri lanka who lost the 2012 final in colombo to the west indies.
Sri lanka will face the winners of the second semi-final between 2007 champions india and south africa also in dhaka on friday.
The final will be played in dhaka on sunday. dwayne bravo hit a 19-ball 30 studded with three boundaries and a six to take the fight to the sri lankan bowlers who took three wickets in the space of nine runs after the west indies had reached 25-0 in the fifth over.
Spearhead lasith malinga who was leading sri lanka after their regular captain dinesh chandimal opted out due to lack of form dismissed dangerman chris gayle (three) and dwayne smith (17) in his second over. malinga had figures of 2-5 in his two overs.
Leg-spinner seekkuge prasanna had lendl simmons lbw (four) to leave the west indies struggling at 34-3 before bravo and marlon samuels (18 not out) added 43 for the fourth wicket. bravo was smartly caught in the deep by mahela jayawardene off paceman nuwan kulasekara and three balls later the rain arrived in the aftermath of strong winds.
When sri lanka batted after winning the toss lahiru thirimanne top-scored with 35-ball 44 tillakaratne dilshan made a run-a-ball 39 and angelo mathews a fiery 23-ball 40. mathews hit two sixes and three boundaries to give the innings much-needed impetus before he fell off the last delivery. thirimanne hit three boundaries and two sixes. sri lanka had raced to 41 in the fourth over thanks to dilshan and kusal perera (26) before they lost three wickets in the space of 15 balls.
Perera who hit two fours and as many sixes off 12 balls was bowled by santokie before jayawardene was run out without facing a delivery.
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