Sri Lanka clinched their 5th Asia Cup title with an all-win record dethroning unpredictable Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the five-nation meet at the their happy hunting ground — Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur — on Saturday.
Earlier, a devastating five–wicket haul by fast bowler Lasith Malinga restricted Pakistan at 260 for 5, and a brilliant century by opener Lahiru Thirimanne helped Sri Lanka reach their long cherished target scoring the match-winner 261 for 5 in 46.2 overs.
Later, Lasith Malinga was adjudged man of the match while Lahiru Thirimanne man of the series.
With the day’s deserving victory, the Islanders not only found their rhythm in the continental cricket after five years with 5th consecutive victory in Asia Cup and the eight successive win in Mirpur Stadium, but also touched the Indian glory of five-time champions, since its inception in 1984.
Sri Lanka, which finished runners-up in the inaugural Asia Cup in the UAE in 1984, won the Asia Cup crown for four times in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008 and finished runners-up on six occasions.
Replying to Pakistan’s fighting total of 260 runs, Sri Lankan lost two early wickets ––Kusal Perera (42) and Kumar Sangakkara (0)—for 56 runs in 10.2 overs, both taken by spinner Saeed Ajmal.
In the opening stand, Kusal Perera paring with Lahiru Thirimanne made 56 runs in 10.1 overs before Kusal was caught by Umar Akmal off a Saeed Ajmal delivery, scoring 42 runs off 37 balls with six fours and a six.
One down celebrated batsman Kumar Sangakkara, returned to the dressing room with a duck in the first ball before he was trapped of lbw off a Saeed Ajmal delivery in the same score.
Lahiru Thirimanne continued his composer in the 3rd wicket stand with Mahela Jayawardene, contributing 156 runs in 27 overs to carry the team total to 212 for 3 in 37.2 overs.
Lahiru hammered his 3rd ODI century scoring 101 runs off 108 balls hitting 13 fours before he was clean bowled by Saeed Ajmal, leaving the team total at 247 for 5 in 44.1 overs.
Mahela Jayawardene scored 75 runs off 93 balls with nine fours and a six before he was caught by Sharjeel Khan off a Mohammad Talha ball.
Spinner Saeed Ajmal grabbed three wickets 26 runs, Mohammad Talha and Junaid Khan took one wicket each conceding 56 runs each.
Earlier, Fawad Alam’s maiden ODI century guided defending champion Pakistan to score a challenging total of 260 for 5 in the stipulated 50 overs.
When Pakistan were in a deep trouble losing top three wickets of Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez cheaply for 18 runs in just 4.3 overs, Fawad Alam pairing with captain Misbah-Ul-Haq salvaged the team from awkward situation scoring 122 runs in 32.1 over in the 4th wicket stand.
The 28-year-old left handed middle-order batsman from Karachi, Fawad again partnering with Umar Akmal contributed 115 runs in 13 overs in the 5th wicket stand to make a fighting of 255 for 5 in 49.4 overs.
Number five batsman Fawad Alam hammered unconquered 114 runs in 134 balls featuring eight fours and three sixes. Fawad completed his first ODI century hitting a six over the mid-wicket off the first ball of 48th over by Thisara Perera. His 126-ball century featured six fours and three sixes.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored 65 runs off 98 balls with three fours and two sixes before he was caught by Kusal Perera off a Lasith Malinga delivery while number six Umar Akmal quick-fired another useful 59 runs off 42 balls, including seven boundaries.
Earlier, Pakistan opened the innings first after winning the toss to bat first and faced an initial batting collapse losing three wickets for 18 runs in 4.3 overs against devastating pace attack Lasith Malinga.
Malinga made the early breakthrough removing opener Sharjeel Khan (8) in the last ball of first over, then he took another opener Ahmed Shehzad (5) in the last ball of his 2nd overs and dismissed one down Mohammad Hafeez (3) in the 3rd ball of his 3rd overs to make a good figure of 3-0-12-3.
Source: UNBConnect
