ICC World T20: Sri Lanka reach final after hailstorm ruins semi-final against West Indies

Lasith Malinga celebrates after taking the wicket of Dwayne Smith

Mirpur (Bangladesh), April 3 (IANS/CMC) Rain, hail and sluggish batting all combined to put defending champions West Indies out of the Twenty20 World Cup here on Thursday.

Chasing 161 for victory for a place in the final, West Indies were struggling at 80 for four in the 14th over, when a fearsome hailstorm swept across the Shere Bangla Stadium, ending the contest against Sri Lanka prematurely, reports CMC.

West Indies were 27 runs behind on Duckworth/Lewis and it means Sri Lanka will go through to the final to meet the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between India and South Africa.

Dwayne Bravo top scored with 30 from 19 balls but the Windies batsmen struggled badly, with Chris Gayle scoring just three from 13 balls and Lendl Simmons getting just four.

Marlon Samuels was unbeaten on 18 from a whopping 29 balls while captain Darren Sammy was yet to face a delivery when play was stopped due to rain with the scoreboard reading 80/4 in 13.5 overs.

Speedster Lasith Malinga was the best bowler with two for five from two overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka rattled up 160 for six off 20 overs, after opting to bat first. Lahiru Thirimanne top scored with 44 from 35 deliveries while Angelo Matthews slammed 40 from 23 balls, to give Sri Lanka momentum late in the innings.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a run-a-ball 39 while his partner Kusal Perera scored 26 from 12 balls, to give Sri Lanka a flying start of 41 for one after just four overs.