Nehra bowls India into Tri-series finals

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – India left-armers Ashish Nehra  and Yuvraj Singh shared six wickets yesterday to take their team  to a six wicket win over New Zealand and a place in the  Tri-series final against hosts Sri Lanka.

After dismissing New Zealand for 155 from 46.3 overs, India  reached their target in the 41st over.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 not out) and Suresh Raina  (45 not out) shared an unbroken 72-run stand for the fifth  wicket after they had lost their first four wickets for 84.  Sachin Tendulkar contributed 46 off 55 balls.
New Zealand, who won the toss, failed to find any momentum.

Man-of-the-match Nehra trapped openers Jessie Ryder and  Brendon McCullum lbw off successive overs with McCullum’s  dismissal giving him his 100th wicket in one-day internationals.

After the initial damage had been done by Nehra, the  left-arm spin of Yuvraj crippled the New Zealand middle order.  Yuvraj ended with figures of three for 31 and Nehra with three  for 24.

India will play Sri Lanka in their second match today  in what will be a dress rehearsal for Monday’s final.