Rain proves a spoiler in Edgbaston:

India cruise into semis

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

In a game where overs were reduced twice, India who had already entered the semi-finals in the group B of the ICC Champions Trophy, beat Pakistan on the Duckworth/Lewis Method here in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Asad Shafiq top scored with 4. India are already into the next round with two wins. After Bhuvanesh Kumar made the early breakthrough getting Nair Jamshed and Mohamed Hafeez, spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja got their spin magic working to cause disarray bagging two wickets each. From early morning supporters of both teams were packing the trains and the buses wanting to make t their way to the venue where the ‘mother of all cricketing battle’ between India and Pakistan was to be played.

The venue was jam packed with fans of both teams proudly waving their flags and shouting ‘India Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad’. There were many fans unable to get in and willing to buy tickets at any price.

Tickets were snapped months before the tournament began and the moment the draw was announced.

Edgbaston, Birmingham, Saturday