BK storms India into final

A stellar performance from Bhuvneshwar Kumar coupled with some good support from Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma helped India thrash a woeful Sri Lanka by 81 runs in a rain reduced contest at Port-of-Spain. Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised 178 off 26 overs, Lanka were bundled out for a paltry 96. India stormed into the finals where once again they will face their familiar and favourite foes on Thursday. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field expecting some moisture and seam movement with the heavy conditions around. Dilhara Lokuhettige replaced the injured Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath came in for Senanayake. The opening seam bowling pair of Eranga and Dilhara bowled a testing initial spell, keeping the length full and swinging the ball in both directions. Rohit Sharma appeared in particular discomfort and was very circumspect. Skipper, Angelo Mathews struck in his first over giving Lanka the first breakthrough in the 7th when he got Dhawan to edge one to Jayawardene at slip - the southpaw departed for 15. Rohit Sharma was given a reprieve when he was just on 11. He was dropped by Jeevan Mendis at point off Malinga. India could muster only 37 in the mandatory powerplay. The Sri Lankan seamers kept up the pressure, bowling a tight and probing line and getting plenty of assistance from the wicket and the prevailing overcast conditions. The good work of the opening pair was kept up by Mathews and Malinga. Runs were at a premium and the boundaries were scarce. Rangana Herath ended the 49 run 2nd wicket stand when he trapped the Indian skipper, Kohli plumb lbw for 31. India had moved to 76/2 in the 21st. Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik tried to put a foot on the accelerator. They attacked Herath heaving him for a six each and had put together a 35 run partnership before Karthik was castled by Herath for 12 with the score on Nelson. India had posted 119/3 after 29 overs before a heavy downpour halted play at Port-of Spain. Persistent rain meant that that was the end of the Indian innings and the Sri Lankan's were set a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 178 off 26 overs. Skipper, Angelo Mathews was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers and conceded just 5 runs off his 5 overs. He was well supported by Malinga who gave away just 7 off his 3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave Sri Lanka a double blow getting rid of Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara off successive deliveries in the 3rd over of the innings. He was getting some prodigious swing and making life difficult for the Lankans. The situation got from bad to worse as Kumar saw the back off Jayawardene and Thirimanne in the 7th and 9th overs of the innings to leave Sri Lanka in dire straits at 31/4. The only solace for the islanders was that they had qualified for the finals (after crossing 28) on virtue of their net run-rate. But there was very little else for them to write home about. Chandimal and Mathews provided some resistance before Ravindra Jadeja got rid of the latter for 10. Chandimal was stumped by Karthik for 26 off Jadeja and now Lanka were staring at defeat at 63/6 after 16. Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin ran through the lower order to clean up Sri Lanka for a paltry 96. They were thrashed by 81 runs under the D/L method. It was a pathetic batting display by the Lankans. None of their batsmen showed any application and the willingness to stay at the crease. On the other hand, India marched into the finals courtesy a stellar performance by their bowlers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the standout bowler and ended with figures of 6 overs, 1 maiden, 4 wickets and 8 runs. He was given excellent support by Jadeja and Ishant who chipped in with 2 wickets each. India will now face Sri Lanka in the final at the same venue on Thursday.