Sachin Tendulkar and Javagal Srinath battered Sri Lanka with bat and ball as India stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with an outstanding 183-run victory in Johannesburg today. Tendulkar blasted 97, shattering his own World Cup record in the process, as India piled up 292-6 after being surprisingly sent to bat in perfect batting conditions at the Wanderers. Srinath then grabbed three wickets with his first 10 deliveries while fellow paceman Ashish Nehra also finished with identical figures of 4-35 as Sri Lanka crashed from 15-4 to 109 all out.
The emphatic win not only confirmed India's berth in the last four before their last Super Sixes game against New Zealand but also ensured they will avoid reigning champions Australia in the semi-finals. Sourav Ganguly's men are likely to finish second or third in the Super Sixes which gives them a semi-final under the Kingsmead lights at Durban on March 20. Australia, who are almost certain to top the table, will take on the fourth-placed team in the first semi-final at Port Elizabeth on March 18.
Sri Lanka must now defeat Zimbabwe heavily in their last Super Sixes match at East London on Saturday to keep their slim hopes alive.
Filed by James Boylan.
