Full-throttle Sri Lanka lift Asia Cup

Thirimanne, Malinga help team dethrone Pakistan to claim title.

DHAKA:

Opener Lahiru Thirimanne hit a magnificent century to help Sri Lanka thump Pakistan by five wickets to win the Asia Cup title in Dhaka on Saturday.

The left-hander notched 101 for his third one-day hundred to anchor Sri Lanka's successful chase of a 261-run target in 46.2 overs for his country's fifth Asia Cup title.

Thirimanne, who also scored a hundred in the tournament's opening match against the same opponents, hit 13 boundaries during his 108-ball knock and steadied the chase during a 156-run third-wicket partnership with veteran teammate Mahela Jayawardene, who made 75.

Pakistan's main spin weapon Saeed Ajmal had broken through after Sri Lanka's confident start of 56, dismissing Kusal Perera (42) and dangerman Kumar Sangakkara (nought) off successive deliveries.

Sri Lanka also lost Ashan Prinyanjan (13) to Junaid Khan and Thirimanne to Ajmal but skipper Angelo Mathews (16 not out) hit the winning runs.

Thirimanne, who reached his hundred with a single off Khan, was finally bowled by Ajmal who finished with three for 26.

Sri Lanka had also won the Asia Cup in 1986, 1997, 2004 and 2008.

"We wanted to break the barrier between us and the finals," said Mathews of Sri Lanka's failure to win the World Cup finals of 2007 and 2011 and the World Twenty20 finals of 2009 and 2012.

"The credit goes to the whole team. It was a very good run chase and a big victory not only for me but for the whole team.”

Alam heroics go in vain

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq blamed defeat on his side's loss of early wickets.

"I think losing the first three wickets quickly put us under pressure and although we managed to reach 260, it was some 20-30 runs short," said Misbah.

Pakistan, who decided to bat after winning the toss, were helped to 260 for five by a brilliant unbeaten 114 by Fawad Alam and a solid 65 by Misbah.

Alam's knock helped Pakistan recover from early devastation caused by paceman Lasith Malinga, who took the first three wickets to force Pakistan on to the back foot, before he finished with five for 56.

Alam added an invaluable 122 for the fourth wicket with Misbah and then another 115 for the fifth wicket with Akmal who scored a 42-ball 59.

He became the first left-handed Pakistan batsman, other than the openers, to hit a one-day century.

Earlier, Malinga rocked the innings with the wickets of Sharjeel Khan (eight), Ahmed Shehzad (five) and Mohammad Hafeez (three) in his incisive four-over spell, pushing Pakistan to 18 for three by the fifth over.

Misbah and Alam played steadily during their 122-run partnership and were lucky to survive some close chances.

Misbah hit three boundaries and two sixes during his solid 98-ball knock before Malinga returned for his second spell and had the Pakistan captain caught in the deep.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2014.

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