adminDHAKA. — 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 yesterday.Set a challenging 161-run target, the West Indies were well short on the Duckworth-Lewis method when a thunderstorm stopped play after 13.5 overs at the Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka.
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 today.
The final will be played in Dhaka on Sunday.
Lasith Malinga, leading Sri Lanka after regular captain Dinesh Chandimal opted out due to lack of form, said the rain had been a worry.
“We knew that the first six overs in their innings would be important (considering the rain) and when the rain came we knew we are ahead of them,” said Malinga.
“We had the confidence in our bowlers to defend that total,” added Malinga. “Everyone is looking forward to the final and we are not thinking of anything else than to improve our performance in every match.” — AFP.
Online Reporter