Robin Singh guides India into the championship round

Robin Singh led from the front as India overwhelmed Sri Lanka by four wickets to book their place in the championship round of the 2002 Hong Kong Sixes.

Chasing a target of 61, India lost opener Hemang Badani in the third ball of the first over. But Atul Wassan (19 off 8 balls with one four and two sixes) and Robin Singh put their team back on track, adding 37 for the second wicket. After Wassan's dismissal Singh (30 off 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes) joined hands with another left-hander Hrishikesh Kanitkar to see his team to victory without any further hiccups.

The four-wicket win also secured India a place in the championship round where they will join South Africa and Pakistan.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, after being put in, were given a strong start by opener Thilina Kandamby, who made an unbeaten 48 in the previous match that Sri Lanka lost to South Africa. The 20-year-old made 31 off 14 balls with one four and three sixes, before retiring.

But with his opening partner Duminda Perera struggling to force the pace, the men from the Emerald Isles struggled to put a meaningful target for the strong Indian batting line-up.