World T20: Sri Lanka in final after thunderstorm ends play

DHAKA: The dreaded Gayle storm never arrived but a furious hailstorm that lasted 27 minutes knocked the West Indies out of the ICC World T20 on Thursday. Sri Lanka, who had set a target of 161, advanced by the D/L method as West Indies, who needed to be 107 for 4 at the end of 13.5 overs, fell short by 27 runs. The only sport that could have been played at the Sher-e-Bangla after the storm was water polo. Sri Lanka advanced to their second consecutive final of the ICC World T20, and their third overall. They had lost to Pakistan in the final in 2009 at Lord's. While the end of West Indies' reign as T20 champions was cut short in anti-climactic fashion, Sri Lanka deserved to go through having played better cricket on the night. Skipper Lasith Malinga rotated his bowlers imaginatively and castled destructive openers Chris Gayle (4; 13 balls) and Dwayne Smith (17) in the space of four balls to negate a wayward first over from Nuwan Kulasekara that had cost 17. Sekkuge Prasanna, drafted in place of birthday boy Thisara Perera, struck with his first ball of the tournament and dismissed Lendl Simmons with a masterful googly. Kulasekara got the big wicket of Bravo, who fell for an entertaining 30 (19b; 3x4, 1x6) to put the issue beyond doubt. In form Darren Sammy joined a struggling Marlon Samuels (18*; 29b) and hoped to wreak havoc for the third game in a row. But the weather had other plans. Lanka will now face the winner of the second semifinal between India and South Africa. Earlier, Angelo Mathews showed off his hitting skills with a destructive 40 (23b) that gave the Lankans the perfect finishing kick. Lahiru Thirimanne provided an example of his abundant talent and poise to prove why Kumar Sangakkara reckons he will be the next big batting star from the island nation. He struck a composed 44 (35b; 3x4, 2x6) to help Sri Lanka recover from 91 for 4 to 160 for 6.   TOI