Batting might sees India into final

KARACHI, July 3 (Agencies): For the second day in succession, a target of 309 was overhauled without much trouble.

Each of India's batsmen played their part as they reached the final with a convincing six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

Muttiah Muralitharan was the only bowler to unsettle the batsmen but, with little support from the rest, India triumphed with 19 balls to spare.

In contrast to their bowling effort, four of Sri Lanka's top six made significant contributions to help them post an imposing total.

However, having already qualified for the final, they rested the experienced Chaminda Vaas as well as their new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, a decision that worked in India's favour.

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag provided their now-familiar blazing start as India started their chase of 309 in earnest.

Muttiah Muralitharan, extracting significant turn, was the only bowler to unsettle the batsmen as India moved to 157 for 2 at the halfway-stage, a solid base to overhaul their imposing target.

It wasn't an all-out assault from Gambhir and Sehwag.

Runs were scored with a combination of well-timed boundaries and a host of sharp singles - even Sehwag's six over midwicket was an effortless pick-up off his pads.

In fact, the only shot in the first Powerplay, based on brute force, was an on-drive from Gambhir off Nuwan Kulasekara in the 10th over.

With little in the pitch for the fast bowlers, the openers were rarely troubled.

The only chances Sri Lanka got were either due to poor communication while running or when Gambhir tried extravagant cuts from too close to the off stump.

The run-fest started in the first over itself as Gambhir deftly got under a short delivery to nudge it over slips for four and then helped a short-and-wide delivery to the point boundary.

He repeatedly charged the fast bowlers, demonstrating his confidence levels.

Sehwag wasn't to be left behind either, getting his first boundary by squeezing a yorker outside off to backward square leg, and then nonchalantly pulling even length deliveries to midwicket.

Though India had raced to 71 in the first 10 overs, Jayawardene decided to take the second Powerplay.

The decision seemed to backfire as 21 runs came off the next nine balls but, as has been the trend this match, a wicket fell to a poor delivery - Sehwag tapping a slower ball down leg side to Dilhara Fernando at short fine leg.

Gambhir and Suresh Raina, who started off with a confident pull to midwicket, steadily took India to 135 before Gambhir was trapped lbw for 68, failing to pick a straighter one from Murali.

While Sri Lanka's openers have grabbed much of the limelight in the tournament so far, it was the turn of their other batsmen to shine.

Chamara Kapugedera, Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva all made half-centuries as Sri Lanka amassed 308 for 8, aided by shoddy fielding by India, after choosing to bat.

India, left with a huge target to secure a berth in the finals, will take heart from the ease with which such totals have been chased down in the tournament.

India started off well as the new-ball bowlers turned in a much-improved performance to keep Sri Lanka quiet, so much so that the first convincing boundary came only in the seventh over.

Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, exploiting the variable bounce in the pitch and effectively using the slower ball to trouble the batsmen.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Jayawardene survived close lbw against him and several mis-hits just eluded the hands of the fielders.

In one of cricket's typical quirks, amid an excellent spell, Ishant picked up his wickets off two of the worst deliveries he sent down - both short and down the leg side.

His opening partner RP Singh was also economical and Sri Lanka were limited to 39 for 1 after eight.

The introduction of Irfan Pathan, though, let them off the hook.

Jayasuriya repeatedly waltzed down the track to cart him square of the wicket, and with Jayawardene feasting on the leg-side offerings, 26 came off Irfan's two overs.

Jayasuriya had already switched to fifth gear before gloving one to Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ishant to reduce Sri Lanka to 71 for 2.

With the pitch easing up, Jayawardene and Kapugedera collected the singles against the spinners while punishing the loose deliveries from the faster bowlers to stitch together a valuable partnership of 78.

Kapugedera, in particular, was impressive with a series of classical off-driven boundaries early on.

Jayawardene went on to his half-century with risk-free batting but perished soon after as he stepped out and chipped Pragyan Ojha straight to long-off.

India went in with four fast bowlers but with both Irfan and Praveen Kumar making poor starts, Dhoni decided to gamble on his part-time spinners - including Rohit Sharma - but they didn't make any impact either.

Chamara Silva, who used the cut and sweep shots well against the spinners, put on 68 before Kapugedera was trapped lbw by Praveen.

Silva maintained the scoring-rate with superb placement in his strokes before succumbing to another poor delivery - a short ball on leg was hit straight to RP at fine leg.

Cameos from Kaushalya Weeraratne and Thilan Thushara, who helped take 14 off Irfan's final over, pushed Sri Lanka beyond 300.

India's cause wasn't helped by their fielding, which has been below par right through the Asia Cup - catches were misjudged, dives at the boundary rarely plugged the boundaries and several run-out opportunities were spurned.

India now face the same target that Pakistan overhauled with ease yesterday, and they will need one of their batsmen to repeat Younis Khan's heroics to make it to the final.