Sri Lanka progressed through to the World Twenty20 final last night, defeating holders West Indies by 27 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method after a torrential downpour brought an early end to proceedings in Dhaka.
West Indies had reached 80 for four off 13.5 overs in pursuit of a victory target of 161 when the players were forced from the pitch by a heavy rain and hail storm.
Such was the impact of the storm, there was no chance of further play in the semi-final and the match was called off with Sri Lanka well ahead on D/L.
The result meant Sri Lanka gained revenge for their defeat to the West Indies in the 2012 final and will have the chance to win their first World T20 crown when they face either India or South Africa, who play today, in the final.
“We knew that the first six overs in their innings would be important and when the rain came we knew we are ahead of them,” said bowler Lasith Malinga. “We had the confidence in our bowlers to defend that total.”
West Indian captain Darren Sammy was left disappointed. “It’s sad we got knocked out because of D/L. That’s life, but we got to move on,” said Sammy.
The West Indies needed 81 runs off 37 balls when the heavens opened and, while they were underdogs at that stage, big-hitting Sammy had arrived at the crease to join the Marlon Samuels (18 not out off 29 balls).
Sammy has built a reputation as a devastating finisher in this form of the game, but he had no time to make an impact after coming in to replace Dwayne Bravo as the weather ruined an exciting finale.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews had helped Sri Lanka post a decent total of 160 for six with rapid 40s batting lower down the order in their innings.
The two-time losing finalists had a flying start with Kusal Perera hitting two sixes and two fours in his 26 off 12 balls, but then the West Indies came roaring back with three big breakthroughs in quick succession.
Perera was bowled by Krishmar Santokie, Mahela Jayawardene was smartly run out without facing a ball and then Kumar Sangakkara was caught and bowled by Samuel Badree as Sri Lanka slumped to 49 for three.
Sri Lanka were forced to rebuild after that and looked set to have to settle for a moderate score.
That was until Thirimanne, firstly, and then Mathews added some impetus to push Sri Lanka beyond 150.
Both players struck three fours and two sixes in their innings, with Thirimanne scoring 44 off 35 balls before falling with the total on 121 while Mathews made 40 off 23 – most of which came in an onslaught that saw Sri Lanka add 32 off the final two overs.
That left the momentum with Sri Lanka, but West Indies looked set to wrestle it back immediately as Dwayne Smith smashed Nuwan Kulasekara for 10 off the first two balls of their reply.
That promising start was wrecked by Malinga as he bowled both Chris Gayle and his opening partner Smith in the space of five balls as the Windies slipped to 28 for two at the end of the fifth over.
Lendl Simmons made four before he fell to Seekkuge Prasanna’s first delivery, but Samuels and Bravo looked to be steadily setting their side up for a late charge before things went awry.
First Bravo departed for a 19-ball 30, then, before Sammy had even had a chance to face a ball, heavy rain forced the teams off.
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