23 Aug 2010

Sri Lanka claims place in Tri-series final with 8-wicket win

6:41 am on 23 August 2010

The Sri-Lankan cricketers have claimed a place in the one-day Tri-series final, after beating India by eight-wickets at Dambulla.

India chose to bat first, but crumbled to just 103 after the all-rounder, Thisara Perera, picked up a maiden five-wicket haul for just 28 runs.

Sri Lanka made short work of the target as Mahela Jayawardene, promoted to open with Tillakaratne Dilshan, raced to a partnership of 79 before both departed off successive deliveries to Ishant Sharma.

But Upul Tharanga and captain Kumar Sangakkara snapped up the victory soon after, earning Sri Lanka a bonus point and putting them on top of the league standings.

The winner of the India and New Zealand match on Wednesday will play Sri Lanka in the final.