It has been tough on the teams in the high humidity, especially for India who have been on the field for three days in a row now, but what a cracking contest we have had.
Full marks to the ground staff who managed to roll out a good pitch despite all the rain and little time to prepare the track.
The first passage of play was 80 runs in 11 overs when Rohit Sharma bolted away from Sri Lanka. In the next passage, the 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage announced himself with the quick wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit. Then KL Rahul showed what a good middle-order batter he is with 39 off 44, but Wellalagae again brought Sri Lanka back, aided by a turning track and an array of batters who can bowl part-time spin. Charith Asalanka ended up with four wickets, three more than he had in international cricket before today.
Under lights, the pitch is usually expected to get better, but Jasprit Bumrah and Moahmmed Siraj ran through the top order even before spin came on. When spin did come on, it turned a mile, and Sri Lanka were 73 for 5 in no time.
Dhananjaya de Silva batted beautifully, and around him Dunith Wellalage caught India unawares in a 63-run seventh-wicket stand.
When India began to string together tight over, a slight misjudgement from de Silva turned the game around again when he just got too close to the ball when trying to loft Ravindra Jadeja over mid-on.
India came roaring back, and are through to the finals after three gruelling days on the field. That’s all from me tonight. See you soon.
Spare a thought for Wellalage, though, who was left stranded after a five-for and 42 off 46 in tough conditions.
