MIRPUR: Sri Lanka has defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in final on Saturday to clinch the title of Asia Cup at Shere Bangla National Stadium, ARY News reported.
Sri Lanka with the victory in the final extended their unbeaten run to five successive win.
Sri Lankan opening batsman, Lahiru Thirimanne made 101 off 108 powering Sri Lanka to an easy win against Pakistan. He played some classic strokes keeping the score board ticking.
He was well supported by out of form Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 75 runs.
This is the fifth Asia Cup win for Sri Lanka. Previously they had won the title in 1986, 1997, 2004 and 2008.
Saeed Ajmal bowled a terrific spell taking 3 wickets and conceded only 26 runs in 10 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan batting first, were 3 down for 18 but Fawad Alam and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq helped Pakistan to recover the top order collapse. They blessed Pakistan with astute 122-run stand setting a good foundation for the team in trouble.
Both of them played watchfully, finding gaps for ones and twos while hitting the loose balls to boundary.
Misbah-ul-Haq scored 65 runs that came off 98 balls. While Fawad finished on 114 not out from 134 balls.
Umar Akmal struck a 42-ball 59, and Shahid Afridi, in stratospheric form, wasn't even required to face a ball.
Pakistan scored 260-5, all five of those scalps, staggeringly, belonged to Lasith Malinga, who finished on 5 for 56.
