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Port of Spain: Career best show by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the rain-hit last league clash and sail into final of the tri-series.
The 22-year-old Kumar had career-best figures of 4 for 8 runs in six overs as Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry 96 in 24.4 overs in pursuit of 178 in stipulated 26 overs as Virat Kohli, in his maiden stint as captain, guided the 'Men In Blue' into the title round. India will again meet Sri Lanka in the final at the same venue on Thursday.
India thus topped the table with 10 points including bonus points from the last two encounters having lost the first two matches and also eliminated hosts West Indies in the process.
Put into bat, Rohit Sharma contributed 48 as India reached 119 for three in 29 overs when rain halted proceedings. Courtesy Duckworth-Lewis method, Sri Lanka's target swelled upto 178 in 26 overs.
For India, the magic figure was 167 under which they had to restrict the islanders in order to make it to the summit clash.
Kumar's knack of picking up early wickets reaped dividends for India as he rocked the opposition removing Upul Tharanga (6) and Kumar Sangakkara (0) off successive deliveries. Tharanga got one that shaped away after pitching as he edged one to Suresh Raina stationed at wide second slip.
Sangakkara got a raw deal as the delivery from Kumar seemed to be going well above stumps as he was adjudged leg before.
If that wasn't enough, Mahela Jayawardene (11) was also dismissed cheaply to make it 27 for three. Jayawardene slashed hard at a rising delivery only to be holed at third man where Murali Vijay was stationed.
Kumar soon got his fourth wicket when Lahiru Thirimanne (4) offered a simple catch to Virat Kohli at cover as Lanka looked down and out at 31 for four.
Once Kumar had done the initial damage, Ravindra Jadeja (2-16) provided perfect exhibition of classical left-arm spin bowling as he removed Angelo Mathews (10) and Chandimal in quick succession.
Both deliveries spun away from the right-handers after pitching. While Mathews was caught by a fumbling Dinesh Karthik, a frustrated Chandimal was deceived by the flight and turn as he was stumped leaving Lanka reeling at 63 for six.
Jeevan Mendis (13) was castled by Ravichandran Ashwin as the match was as a contest was as good as over. Ishant Sharma (2/17 in 4.4 overs) put the final nail in the coffin by polishing off the tail.
Earlier, Rohit revelled again in an opener's role as his unbeaten 48 took India to 119 for three in 29 overs on a track which wasn't conducive for free-flowing strokeplay.
In-from opener Shikhar Dhawan (15), skipper Virat Kohli (31) and Dinesh Karthik (12) were three batsmen who were dismissed in the process.
Giving Rohit company was Suresh Raina who was batting on four. During his patient innings in which he faced 83 balls, the talented Mumbaikar hit a couple of boundaries and a big slog swept six off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
With Lankan bowlers sticking to a disciplined line, it wasn't easy to hit big strokes Rohit curbed his natural instincts to play a responsible knock so far.
Herath was the most successful among the Lankan bowlers grabbing two for 32 in six overs while his captain Angelo Mathews bowled a very econimical first spell in which he took the wicket of Dhawan giving away only five runs in five overs.
Dhawan tried to give rival captain Angelo Mathews the charge only to guide the ball to Mahela Jayawardene at the second slips. Jayawardene, thus became the first cricketer to complete 200 catches in limited overs cricket.
Brief scores
India 119 for 3 (Rohit 48*)
Sri Lanka 96 (Bhuvneshwar 4-8)
Result India won by 81 runs (D/L method)
Points India 5, Sri Lanka 0
MOM Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)
