India fail to make semis despite beating SA

INDIA failed to reach the World Twenty20 semifinals despite beating SA by one run in a gripping final Super Eight group one match yesterday.

India’s total of 152/6 was not enough because in the 17th over eliminated SA passed the target of 121 runs that ensured Australia and Pakistan would move into the last four.

Hosts Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan in the first semifinal in Colombo tomorrow and Australia take on the West Indies on Friday in the same stadium. The final is on Sunday.

India scratched their way past 150, boosted by a late burst from Suresh Raina (45) and captain MS Dhoni (23 not out).

SA lost opener Hashim Amla second ball but thanks to Faf du Plessis’s rapid 65 they threatened a first Super Eight victory before falling just short, Zaheer Khan claiming figures of 3/22 for India.

Lakshmispathy Balaji was twice hit for six in the final over but he bowled Albie Morkel and his brother, Morne, to seal victory with one ball to spare.

Earlier yesterday Pakistan beat Australia by 32 runs, a result which knocked SA out of the tournament.

Pakistan made 149/6 after being sent in to bat in the group two Super Eight match at the Premadasa Stadium, before a five-man spin attack restricted Australia to 117/7.

Prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3/17, but it was 20-year-old Raza Hasan who was declared man of the match for conceding just 14 runs and taking two wickets in four overs of steady left-arm spin.

“I am grateful to see the effort put up by the boys today,” said Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez.

“It was a big game for us and we needed to be at our best against a side like Australia. Once we got a good total, we knew we will do well because there was going to be help for the bowlers.

“Raza Hasan was brilliant, a great find for us,” he said.

Despite the loss, Australia advanced to the semifinals by having the best net run-rate in the group. Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified from group one.

Australia, who have never won the World Twenty20, had breezed through four consecutive matches in the tournament before being abruptly halted by Pakistan. Sapa-AFP