Cricket news: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 cruise through to final of Tri-Series
India gave a ruthless performance to cruise into the final of the Tri-Series final as the New Zealanders caved in rather tamely in the last league match of the tournament being played at the Rangiri International stadium in Dambulla.
The resounding 105 run win takes them to the final of the tournament against hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
After winning the toss the Indians opted to bat first on a tricky wicket and as always it was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 who took the attack to the opposition with a belligerent batting display which was absolutely exuberant considering the problems other batsmen have had on the wicket through out the series.
His opening partner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina in quick succession the trio scored 8, 6 and 1 respectively.
The top four batsmen saw Sehwag score 15 runs between them as the Indians sank to 66/4 inside the first 13 overs of the match.
Sehwag finally succeeded in stitching a partnership with skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 worth 107 runs in 19 overs to take his team towards a sizeable total. Sehwag in the meanwhile completed his 100 off 87 balls, he was finally dismissed for 110 runs while his innings was studded with 16 fours and a solitary six.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 Dasher was sent back by McCullum with the total on 173, his demise sparked a collapse as the rest of the batting line-up caved in without a whimper.
Dhoni was dismissed for 38 runs off 75 balls, his innings included three fours, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ravindra-c84236 Jadeja fell at the same total leaving the Indians at 199/7.
The last three wickets failed to contribute much as the team folded for 223 runs, with more than three overs left unused.
For the Black Caps Tim Southee claimed four scalps while McCullum claimed three wickets, helping the Indians restrict to what on paper looked like a defendable target.
The New Zealand reply was disastrous from the outset as the top order was blown away by the Indian opening bowlers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Nehra-c46293, while Munaf Patel who was making a comeback in the match went through the middle and lower order leaving the Black Caps tottering at 55/8.
The slide started with the dismissal of Martin Guptill who fell lbw with out scoring to Kumar, while Watling, Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915, Scott Styris, Williamson, Elliot and wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins all returned to the pavilion as the Indians tightened the noose with a disciplined bowling performance in helpful conditions.
The Indian pacers were seemingly motivated by jibes of “Softies” by former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 and left no stone unturned taking their wrath out on the poor opposition.
The Black Caps were saved by further embarrassment by a swashbuckling half century by tail end batsman Kyle Mills who hit three sixes and five fours in his 52 run knock to prolong the match and ensure that his team crosses the three figures mark.
The Black Caps were eventually rolled over for 118 runs and were sent crashing out of the tournament that they had started on a real positive note with a resounding win in the first match.
The Indians are set to contest their second consecutive final at Dambulla after winning the Asia Cup in April earlier this year.
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