Mirpur: A dominant Sri Lanka on Thursday made it to the ICC World T20 final for the third time knocking out defending champions West Indies by 27 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method after thundershowers stopped proceedings in the 14th over of the second innings.
Batting first in the first semi-final, Sri Lanka scored an impressive 160 for six riding on important contributions from Angelo Mathews (40) and Lahiru Thirimanne (45).
In reply, West Indies were 80 for four in 13.5 overs when a storm followed by heavy downpour ruled out any chances of a game.
The D/L par score at that point of time was 107 and the Caribbeans were well short of the target, struggling at 80 for four in 13.5 overs.
There was certainly no ‘Gayle-storm’ but the 15-minute Kalboisakhi (NorWesters), as they call in this part of the world, turned the ground into a lake.
Umpires Richard Kettleborough and Rod Tucker had to wait as per rules before Sri Lanka were adjudged winners.
But the Lankans were the deserving winners considering that West Indies were never in the hunt during their chase except for the first over.
Earlier, Lahiru Thirimanne arrested a top-order slide while Angelo Mathews played a lovely cameo as Sri Lanka posted a fighting total.
Thirimanne scored 44 off 35 balls while Mathews blasted his way in the final two overs, smashing 40 off only 23 balls. Veteran opener TM Dilshan (39) did not convert a good start while the other two seniors Jayawardene (0) and Sangakkara (1) did not get going.
Mathews scored 32 runs in the final two overs bowled by Krishmar Santokie and Andre Russell. Mathews had three fours and two sixes in his knock.
The Lankan openers gave a flying start to the innings, getting 32 off the first three overs. It was one such day when opening bowlers Santokie (2/46 in 4 overs) and Samuel Badree (1/23 in 4 overs) did not get the length right in the initial overs. Badree, however, bowled well in his second spell.
Sri Lanka now await the result of the second semi-final between India and South Africa to be played at Mirpur on Friday. (PTI)