SRI LANKA WIN BY 27 RUNS (D/L) | Scorecard

The match has been called off and Sri Lanka have emerged winners by 27 runs courtesy of the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Chasing 161 for victory, West Indies were 80 for four in 13.5 overs against Sri Lanka when heavy rain halted play in the first semi-final.

Marlon Samuels (16) and Darren Sammy (3) were in the middle when the rain, mixed with hail, started pouring down at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

In the second semi-final, India will take on South Africa at the same venue on Friday, starting at 1830 IST.

It has stopped raining but it looks unlikely that we could have any further play in the match.

"RAIN DELAY! #WIvSL The groundstaff are out but little they can do. Its swamped out there. Lot of waters on the covers," writes West Indies Cricket Board's official Twitter account.

Remember, Sri Lanka will be declared the winners of the match and progress through to the final if we have no further play. They are ahead by 26 runs in the Duckworth-Lewis calculation.

Things look very bad at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur at the moment with the rain continuing to lash the venue.

"hail, mirpur is a lake, find a boat!!" writes commentator Harsha Bhogle from the stadium.

"Its actually hailing right now in Dhaka!! Wow.. Large marble sized hail stones hammering down!" writes Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

RAIN STOPS PLAY!!!

WI 80-4 (13.5 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

It is pouring out in Dhaka and now we have hailstorm pelting the stadium. Even the groundstaff are running for cover now and it seems unlikely we might have any play today but Sri Lanka won't mind it.

RAIN STOPS PLAY!!!

WI 80-4 (13.5 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Samuels has decided to go after Herath with 96 needed from eight overs for victory.

He gives Herath the charge and slams the first ball through the covers for a boundary. Two dots followed by a single before Bravo launches the fifth ball over the cover region for a six as 11 come from that over.

While Bravo is looking threatening with 30 from 18 balls, Samuels has struggled to get going with 15 from 25 balls, having hit just one four.

Kulasekara comes back. The pressure pays for Sri Lanka with the big wicket of Bravo, who goes for the big shot but holes out to deep midwicket after scoring 30 from 19 balls.

Kulasekara then bowls a good yorker to new batsman Samuels, who can only keep it out before taking two from the next.

Samuels then misses a full toss as he looks to heave it on the leg side and Sammy calls him for a leg bye.

And it has started raining all of a sudden. The players are forced to retreat back to the dressing room as a heavy spell of rain hits the stadium.

Sri Lanka are 26 runs ahead in the Duckworth-Lewis calculation.

WI 65-3 (12 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Bravo and Samuels trying to lead a comeback with a good partnership as they steadily build up the tempo.

Herath drops one short and Samuels pulls it through midwicket for a boundary as eight runs come from that over.

West Indies have got 17 runs from the last two overs, but they need 100 more runs from nine overs for victory.

Angelo Mathews comes into the attack. And he bowls a tight over giving away just four to make it more difficult for the Windies.

WI 54-3 (10 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

The pressure continues to build as Sri Lanka continue to dry up the boundaries. Herath bowls another good over, giving away four runs the same as his first as the run rate goes above the 10-run per over mark.

Bravo decides to break the shackles as he lofts a full delivery over the cover region for a boundary. He hits the fifth ball through that same region but Dilshan saves another four running to his left from long-off.

After 10 overs, West Indies are 53 for three, with 108 needed from 60 balls for victory.

WI 40-3 (8 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Sri Lanka's hero of the last match -- Rangana Herath comes into the attack. He continues Sri Lanka's good work with the ball in the recent over, giving away just four runs to keep up the pressure.

Leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna comes into the attack. He starts with a wicket as Simmons is trapped leg before wicket for four as West Indies continue to slip.

New batsman Dwayne Bravo hits a short ball through the covers where Dilshan makes a brilliant diving save on the boundary to save some runs for his team.

The ball is again short which Bravo pulls through midwicket for a four, the first boundary after the first over.

WI 30-2 (6 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Kulasekara, who was hit for 17 runs in his first over, is given a chance to make up for that.

Lendl Simmons plays three dot balls before he takes one to long-on and Marlon Samuels gets a single from the last ball as just two come from that over.

WI 28-2 (5 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Malinga provides the breakthrough for Sri Lanka with the key wicket of Gayle. The left-hander struggled for three from 13 balls before he dragged one back on to his stumps.

A few deliveries later, Malinga foxed Smith with a slower ball as the off-cutter broke through his defences to bowl him for 17 from 14 balls.

After scoring 17 runs from the first over, West Indies have lost two wickets for 11 runs in the next four overs.

WI 22-0 (3 ovs) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake bowls the second over and he comes up with a tidy over, giving away just three runs.

Lasith Malinga comes in early as Sri Lanka look for early wickets, especially that of dangerman Chris Gayle.

The tall left-hander is looking in no hurry and continues his recent tactics of taking his time to settle down in the early overs, scoring just two runs from 10 balls.

Smith has hit 14 from eight balls as WI reach 22 for no loss in three overs.

 

WI 17-0 (1 over) vs SL 160-5 | Scorecard

Nuwan Kulasekara to open the bowling for Sri Lanka as Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle walk out for West Indies with the bat.

Smith is off to a smashing start as he lofts the ball over mid-on for a boundary and launches the next over midwicket for a six.

Kulasekara then bowls a big wide down the leg side for five wides as 17 runs come from the first over to get Windies for a flying start.
 

SL 160-5 (20 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Russell to bowl the final over of the innings. He is doing a good job as just three runs come from the first three balls before he gives away two wides.

Mathews then crashes one over the cover region for a six before hitting the next for a boundary through the leg side.

But he falls off the last delivery as he skies one on the leg side and Bravo takes a good catch running from deep midwicket.

Mathews falls for a quick 40 from 23 balls as Sri Lanka finish on 160 for in their 20 overs.

Sri Lanka did well in the death overs, scoring 53 in the last five losing two wickets in the process to give their bowlers a good total to defend.

SL 145-5 (19 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Santokie to bowl the 19th over. Mathews targets him as he hits the first ball wide of long-on for a six before he hits the next through the same region for a boundary.

He then makes room and chips the third ball over the cover region for another boundary.

It's a huge over for Sri Lanka as 17 come from it as a target of around 160 is within reach for them now.

SL 128-5 (18 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Narine to bowl his fourth and final over. Seekkuge Prasanna is the new batsman for Sri Lanka. Mathews turns the first ball on the leg side for a couple before he takes a single.

Prasanna is then beaten by the one that goes straight on before he slog sweeps. Bravo makes a good effort running to his right at deep square leg as he takes the catch but is unable to hold on and has to throw the ball inside before running over the ropes.

Seven runs from the over as Narine finishes with 20 runs from his four.

SL 121-5 (17 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Medium pacer Santokie comes back. Angelo Mathews flicks the first ball to midwicket for two runs before he takes one from the next.

Thirimanne makes room as he tries to hit it through the off-side but gets a thick outside edge for a boundary past short thirdman.

However, Santokie cripples Sri Lanka with the wicket of Thirimanne, who is caught at point after scoring 44 from 35 balls.

SL 112-4 (16 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Narine has two overs left but West Indies still have one over left from the fifth bowler.

Again, Sri Lanka avoid taking any risks against Narine, whom they hit safely in the gaps to collect five easy runs.

Narine has given 13 runs in his three overs.

SL 107-4 (15 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Russell comes back for his second spell with West Indies looking to finish off the fifth bowler's quota before the death overs.

Gayle has to go off in some pain as he seems to have hurt his ankle while fielding. Thirimanne steers the third ball to thirdman where Samuels misses one and gives away a boundary.

It turns to be a pretty expensive over for the Windies as Thirimanne cuts the last ball for a six to get 14 runs from it.

SL 93-4 (14 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Dilshan doing it sensibly against Samuels as he drives the first ball to midwicket for a single before he turns the next ball to fine leg for the same result.

Dilshan then throws his wicket away courtesy of another run out as he sets for another quick run on the off-side but is sent back. After playing a part in Jayawardene's run out, Dilshan falls in the same fashion as he walks back for 39.

SL 87-3 (13 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Narine comes back as Gayle is taken off after just one over. Sri Lanka being very cautious against him as Dilshan takes a single from the second ball while Thirimanne does the same two balls later.

Dilshan retains strike with a single from the last ball as three runs come from that over.

SL 84-3 (12 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Sri Lanka's batsmen managing to just get the singles before Thirimanne breaks the shackles as he slog sweeps Samuels for a six over midwicket to get 10 runs form that over.

SL 74-3 (11 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Captain Darren Sammy has held himself back as he brings on another part-timer into the attack, in the form of Chris Gayle.

He starts with a rank long hop which is pulled for a four by Thirimanne before he takes two from the next ball, to long-on.

Three more singles as Gayle concedes nine from his first over.

Sri Lanka have bounced back well with runs coming pretty freely in the last couple of overs.

SL 65-3 (10 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Part-timer Marlon Samuels into the attack. He makes a tidy start, giving away just three single as SL reach 65 for three at the halfway stage.

Much will depend on Dilshan, who is currently batting on 30 from 29 balls.

SL 62-3 (9 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Medium pacer Andre Russell comes into the attack. The first ball is slipping down the leg side which Dilshan flicks fine for a much-needed boundary for the Lankans.

He then takes a risky second run as his partner Lahiru Thirimanne was struggling to make the crease but the bowler failed to collect the ball.

Two singles from the last two balls as Russell goes for eight runs in his first over.

SL 54-3 (8 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Narine slips in another quiet over as just four singles come from it. Dilshan, who was looking for the big shots in the early over, has gone into a shell after a few quick wickets.

He has made 21 from 22 balls with SL on 54 for three in eight overs.

SL 50-3 (7 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Badree will continue as he comes on to bowl his fourth and final over. And he gets the big wicket of Sangakkara who is caught and bowled for one as Sri Lanka continue to slip, losing three wickets for eight runs in the space of 14 deliveries.

Two runs from Badree's final over, who finishes with one for 23 in four overs. He went for 20 runs in his first two overs but made a good comeback in his next two to bring his team back into the contest.

SL 48-2 (6 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine comes into the attack in place of Santokie, who took a wicket in his previous over.

He makes a tidy start, giving away five runs, with both Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara not willing to take any risks.

Just seven runs from the last two over as Sri Lanka reach 48 for two in six overs.

SL 43-2 (5 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

And Sri Lanka are dealt another big blow, in the next over. Badree continues despite being hit for 15 runs in his previous over.

Senior pro Mahela Jayawardene sets off for a quick single but is caught short of his crease and is run out without facing a delivery.

There was no run in that as Dilshan tapped it straight to Sammy in the covers and called his partner for a non-existent single.

A good comeback by West Indies as just two runs come from that over as Sri Lanka reach 43 for two in five overs.

SL 41-1 (4 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Perera continues his assault on the Windies bowlers. This time he takes on Santokie and lofts the medium pacer over long-on for a six.

However, the medium pacers gets revenge from the last ball with the wicket of Perera, who inside edges it back on to his stumps to be bowled for a quickfire 26 from 12 balls.

SL 32-0 (3 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Dilshan joins in the party as he gives Badree the charge and lofts him straight down the ground for the first six of the match. Three singles before Perera smashes the last ball over mid-off for the second six of the match.

Sri Lanka are off to a flier as they race to 32 for no loss in three overs.

SL 17-0 (2 ovs) vs WI | Scorecard

Left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie to bowl the second over. Perera flicks the first ball on the leg side for a couple before he hits the next ball for a boundary.

He then places the third ball in the gap on the leg side for another couple before crashing the next through midwicket for the second four of the over.

Santokie is hit for 12 runs in that over as Sri Lanka's openers look keen to go on the attack right from the start.

SL 5-0 (1 over) vs WI | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Samuel Badree to open the bowling for West Indies. Kushal Perera takes a single from the first ball on the off-side. Tillakaratne Dilshan is off the mark in positive fashion as he comes down and smashes it uppishly through the covers for a boundary.

He defends the next three deliveries as five runs come from the opening over.

Check out how the two teams line-up for today's match:

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (captain), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekkuge Prasanna, Rangana Herath.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Smith, Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Krishmar Santokie.

Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga has won the toss and elected to bat against West Indies in the first semi-final of the ICC World T20.

Malinga is once again leading the side in place of regular captain Dinesh Chandimal, who has opted to sit out of this match.

They made one change as they included leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna in place of all-rounder Thisara Perera.

Meanwhile, West Indies are unchanged.

Sri Lanka will be gunning for revenge when they take on defending champions West Indies in the first semi-final, of the ICC World T20, in Mirpur, on Thursday.

Sri Lanka were beaten by West Indies in the final of the World T20 in October 2012 and they will be keen to make up for that loss.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka's regular captain Dinesh Chandimal opted to sit out the match which means Lasith Malinga will once again lead the side.