Port of Spain, Trinidad: Seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 4-8 on Tuesday as India completed an 81-run victory over Sri Lanka on the Duckworth/Lewis method that put both teams into the final of the Celkon Mobile Cup tri-series.
The result at Queen's Park Oval meant that hosts West Indies bowed out of the tournament.
In a rain-shortened match, Kumar's career-best figures ripped through the heart of the batting as Sri Lanka, chasing a revised target of 178 off 26 overs, was 96 all out off 24.4 overs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Ishant Sharma supported well, both claiming 2-17.
Earlier, India reached 119-3 off 29 overs before heavy rain caused a stoppage of four hours, 35 minutes.
Opener Rohit Sharma anchored the innings with an unbeaten 48, while captain Virat Kohli contributed 31.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed 2-32 for Sri Lanka.
India, aware that nothing other than a victory would allow them to advance to the final, was sent in by Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews in conditions which made stroke-play difficult.
Sharma and left-hander Shikhar Dhawan saw off the new ball threat of Shaminda Eranga and Dilhara Lokuhettige, recalled after an absence of eight years. The opening pair enjoyed its fair share of luck in putting on 27 in 6.2 overs before the Sri Lanka skipper made the breakthrough.
Dhawan, who contributed 15 off 16 balls, pushed tentatively outside off stump and edged to a wide first slip where Mahela Jayawardene went low to his right to haul in his 200th catch at this level. The 36-year-old, in his 399th one-dayer, was the first fielder to reach the double century mark.
Sharma made the most of a let-off soon afterwards to forge a second wicket stand of 49 with Kohli. The right-hander was on 11 when he slashed Lasith Malinga's fourth delivery in and out of Jeevan Mendis' hands at backward point.
Kohli was the more fluent in the association, stroking four boundaries before recalled Herath struck two crucial blows.
The Indian captain was plumb leg before playing back to a faster, straighter delivery while Dinesh Karthik was also on the back foot when he was bowled off stump with one that turned sharply past the outside edge at 111-3.
Sharma was closing in on a half century when the rain arrived.
On resumption, the Sri Lankans needed a challenging total, while India needed to win, as well as limit their opponents to 167 or fewer to ensure they qualified ahead of the West Indies.
The 23-year-old Kumar, in his first year of international cricket, quickly put India in control with his well-controlled, each-way movement.
He claimed Upul Tharanga, who sparred high to Suresh Raina second slip and, next ball, got a fortuitous lbw verdict from umpire Peter Nero to leave Sri Lanka at 14-2.
Kumar continued his demolition of Sri Lanka's top order with the scalps of Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne as the chase slid to 31-4. Jayawardene steered straight to third man while Thirimanne lofted to extra cover.
Dinesh Chandimal hit a top-score of 26 but labored for 54 balls.
Jadeja ensured there would be no fightback by removing captain Mathews and Chandimal. Mathews, who crossed 2,000 runs when he made nine, only added one more before he edged to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik. Chandimal, who hit one six and a four, charged down the pitch, missed and was stumped.
The result was never in doubt after that and Ishant Sharma grabbed two tailend wickets as India completed a big win to secure a bonus point and end the group stages on top of the table.