Ishant Sharma backed the India pace attack to take the game to England in the Champions Trophy final after a disciplined bowling display helped them to an eight-wicket semi-final win over Sri Lanka in Cardiff yesterday.
Sri Lanka were asked to bat first, but superb seam bowling from Ishant, (three for 33), Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (one for 18) and Umesh Yadav restricted them to 181 for eight from their 50 overs, with only captain Angelo Mathews and Mahela Jayawardene (38) looking comfortable. The total never looked like being enough and another fine knock from Shikhar Dhawan (68), plus 58 from Virat Kohli helped India home with 15 overs to spare.
The World Cup winners now face hosts England in Sunday's Edgbaston final and, having dealt with the threat posed by Sri Lanka's big hitters, paceman Ishant is confident India have what it takes to stymie the likes of Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. He said: "If you are bowling in a good area, no batsmen will enjoy playing you, that is what we have been doing and we will do the same thing in the final. We have played good cricket until now. We don't need to change anything."
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