India clinch final spot

Professional run chase sets up rematch for the title

Last updated: 3rd July 2008

India clinch final spot

Dhoni: Led by example with brisk 67

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Asia Cup - Phase Two
Karachi
Sri Lanka 308-8 Innings Complete (C K Kapugedera 75, L P C Silva 50, D P M D Jayawardene 50) v India 310-4 (G Gambhir 68, M S Dhoni 67, S K Raina 54)
India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wkts

Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from the front as India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to secure their place in the final of the Asia Cup.

Dhoni blazed a quick-fire 67 runs from 62 deliveries in the Super Four match, and was well supported by Suresh Raina (54) as India capitalised on another flying start from openers Gautam Gambhir (68) and Virender Sehwag (42).

Half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene (50), Chamara Kapugedera (75) and Chamara Silva (50), plus a breezy 43 from Sanath Jayasuriya, had earlier powered Sri Lanka to a competitive 308-8.

But India overhauled that target in 46.5 overs with Yuvraj Singh (36) and Rohit Sharma (22) planting the finishing touches.

India's win makes Friday's match between Pakistan and Bangladesh inconsequential as the hosts have no chance of making the final.

Sri Lanka, who had topped the Super Four table with six points prior to this outing, had already made the final.

Hard hitting

India's bowlers turned in a much-improved performance with Ishant Sharma picking up early wickets, but shoddy fielding and a fine innings from Kapugedera helped Sri Lanka to a challenging total.

Sehwag and Gambhir set about the chase in typically brisk fashion, bringing up India's 50 in just 39 deliveries.

Dilhara Fernando, one of two changes made to the Sri Lanka side, in particular found himself on the receiving end of some hard hitting as he conceded 28 runs in his first three overs.

The departure of Sehwag gave Sri Lanka some respite, but Raina quickly found his rhythm and added 42 runs for the second wicket with Gambhir.

As with Sehwag's dismissal, the scoring rate dipped marginally with the departure of Gambhir, but only just.

Dhoni took up the chase and eased to a half-century - his second in as many days - off just 49 deliveries to set the foundations for the win before Yuvraj and Sharma finished the job with 19 balls to spare.