India seal final place

Suresh Raina struck the first six of the day off Daniel Vettori on his way to 45 not out as India dominated

A strong all-round performance helped India defeat New Zealand by six wickets and secure their place in the final of the triangular Compaq Cup in Colombo.

The Black Caps had needed to win this match to stay in the tournament, but India’s Ashish Nehra and Yuvraj Singh claimed three wickets apiece to help skittle New Zealand for a meagre 155 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar then slammed 46, while Suresh Raina hammered 45 not out and Mahendra Singh Dhoni made an unbeaten 35 as India overhauled the target in 40.3 overs, sealing a rare victory while chasing at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Kyle Mills had given the Black Caps a good start with the ball, winning a leg-before decision against makeshift opener Dinesh Karthik (four) in his second over with the new ball.

But Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who last played a one-day international in October 2007, helped India wrest control with a 60-run partnership for the second wicket. While Dravid’s innings was laborious – he made 14 from 45 deliveries – Tendulkar’s was brisk.

Tendulkar drove fluently and dissipated pressure with boundaries at regular intervals. The master batsman was particularly harsh on seamer Ian Butler, driving him for two boundaries on either side of the wicket in his first over – the 11th of the innings - which yielded 11 runs.

With their most experienced players at the crease, India seemed to be cruising, but the Black Caps struck back, providing another twist. Dravid was trapped in front by Jacob Oram, while Daniel Vettori removed Tendulkar – caught tamely at cover, the two dismissed within the space of eight deliveries.

Vettori inflicted more damage by snaring Yuvraj Singh (eight) cheaply and it brought Dhoni and Raina – two new batsmen on a difficult surface – together. Both started cautiously, but Raina resumed the chase with a six – the first of the match – off Vettori.

Dhoni, far more cautious in approach, anchored the partnership as the two put on an unbeaten 72 runs for the fifth wicket.

Sachin Tendulkar gave India's innings some early impetous as he struck 46

Earlier, left-arm seamer Nehra helped India hit the ground running by removing openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum in consecutive overs with the new ball, while RP Singh snared Ross Taylor (11) to leave the Black Caps in trouble at 19 for three inside six overs.

Grant Elliott (22) and batsman Martin Guptill (22) revived the innings somewhat with a 32-run stand for the fourth wicket but that partnership was ended by Yuvraj.

The left-arm spinner was introduced in the 15th over - the final over of the powerplay - and he reaped immediate success by getting rid of Guptill with the final delivery of his first over.

Elliott survived a brilliant stumping effort by Dhoni, third umpire Gamini Silva ruling the batsman had his foot behind the line while attempting to defend a delivery from Yuvraj.

Television replays, however, suggested otherwise, but Elliott added only one more run to his tally when fate caught up with him. The batsman pushed at a delivery aimed down leg-side by Yuvraj and was adjudged caught behind by umpire Kumar Dharmasena, although televisions replays indicated the ball had come off pad rather than bat.

Oram (24), Neil Broom (21) and top-scorer Vettori (25) all got starts, but failed to push on. Yuvraj finished with three for 31 from 10 overs, while Nehra's three wickets came at the expense of 24 runs.

India play Sri Lanka - the other team in the fray - in an inconsequential match tomorrow, before the two teams meet again in Monday's final.