Dhoni's men make a date with destiny.(Reprint)

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All that lies between India and greatness is Sri Lanka, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side made sure of their place in Saturday's final with a 29-run win over Pakistan in Mohali.

The hosts were the slight favourites heading into the match that, even before a ball was bowled, was dubbed 'the game of the century'.

However, such was the pressure on Dhoni's side, and the ability of their arch-rivals, that no one was taking anything for granted.

But, keen to hit 28 years of World Cup woe for six, India didn't fluff their lines and will take their place in the crucial clash in Mumbai and seek to emulate Kapil Dev's heroes of 1983.

Having won the toss and elected to bat India made 260 for nine off their 50 overs.

While some thought that below par, Pakistan's run-chase was always going to be tough under the lights and with night time dew increasing. Shahid Afridi's side lost wickets at regular intervals and although never out of it never looked like reaching the victory target.

Mohammad Hafeez (43), Asad Shafiq (30) and Umar Akmal (30) all got in without going on to score an innings-defining knock.

The India attack shared the wickets with Yuvraj Singh (two for 57) once again popping up to get the vital scalp of Younus Khan (13). Once big-hitters Afridi (19) and Abdul Razzaq (three) departed there was no way back for Pakistan.

Not even a gallant knock by Misbah-ul-Haq (56) was enough to save his side as they were bowled out for 231.

However, it could have been a different story for the tournament's surprise package. Skipper Afridi would have been ruing a sloppy fielding effort from his team as they squandered several opportunities to pin the home side down.

India's innings was built on the back of Sachin Tendulkar's chancy 85, however, it could have been far less if the Pakistani fielders hadn't dropped the 'Little Master' four times.

Misbah, Younus, Umar and Kamran Akmal were all guilty of letting India's main man off the hook, with the skipper the unlucky bowler on three occasions. Tendulkar also used a review to successfully overturn an LBW decision earlier in his knock. But just when it seemed nothing could stop the 37-year-old from bringing up his 100th international century, Afridi caught him off Saeed Ajmal (two for 44), to deny India's talisman the magical milestone.

Earlier, the hosts looked set to blast their way into the final when opener Virender Sehwag (38) tore into the Pakistani attack.

The right-hander smashed five fours to milk 21 runs off Umar Gul's (none for 69) second over, but couldn't make the most of the flying start as Wahab Riaz (five for 46) trapped the opener LBW on the way to his first five-wicket haul.

Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir (27) managed to add 68 for the third wicket but Hafeez (one for 34) ended the blossoming partnership by removing Gambhir, and Riaz returned to claim Virat Kohli (nine) and the in-form Yuvraj (zero) with successive deliveries to leave the hosts reeling at 141 for four.

However, Dhoni (25) and Suresh Raina (36 not out) steadied the ship before the latter cashed in on the batting powerplay to carry the home side past the 250-mark.

This article was originally published by www.7days.ae.

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