Lankans reach semis in style

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning five-wicket win off the last ball to dump India from the World Twenty20 Championship and clinch a berth in the semi-finals of the tournament yesterday.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Man-of-the-Match Angelo Mathews both struck 46 as Sri Lanka overhauled India's 163 for five. With three needed from the last ball, Chamara Kapugedera smashed left-armer Ashish Nehra over extra cover for six to complete the victory.

He finished unbeaten on 37 from 16 balls, a knock that included two fours and three sixes.

The Sri Lankans, needing to score 143 to ensure their place in the semi-finals even if they lost, seemed to be floundering at 49 for three after losing the prolific Mahela Jayawardene for four and the experienced Sanath Jayasuriya without scoring.

Caught at first slip

Jayawardene was caught off the third ball of the innings at first slip, pushing outside the off stump at Nehra while Jayasuriya was caught at midwicket by Murali Karthik off pacer Vinay Kumar.

When Dilshan was caught at backward square by Yuvraj Singh attempting a slog sweep off Yusuf Pathan for 33 off 26 balls with five fours, it left Sri Lanka in a spot of bother.

Sangakkara and Mathews then teamed up to put on a measured 56 off 42 balls for the fourth wicket to rescue the innings.

The left-handed Sangakkara's 33 ball 46 came with two fours and three sixes and when he departed bowled by Vinay Kumar, backing away trying to force a ball through the off side, Sri Lanka were 105 for four in the 15th over.

Kapugedera joined Mathews and after the 18th over Sri Lanka needed a further 30 runs for victory.

Seventeen runs came from the 19th over bowled by Kumar, including two sixes by Kapugedera off the last two balls.

Mathews then struck the first ball of the final over over long off for another huge six but was run out off the fifth ball with three runs needed for victory.

Kapugedera stepped up and finished the game in style, charging Nehra and launching him deep over the extra cover boundary for six.

Needing to win by 20 runs or more to get through to the semi-finals, India got a top score of 63 of Suresh Raina and 41 from Gautam Gambhir.

They put on 69 from 41 balls for the second wicket as India got up to 96 for one at the end of the 11th over.