Sri Lanka dominate Pakistan in Asia Cup final

DHAKA: Sri Lanka thumped Pakistan by five wickets in the final to lift the Asia Cup at Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. Sri Lanka chased down a challenging 261-run target in 46.2 overs with opener Lahiru Thirimanne notching a brilliant 101. This is Sri Lanka’s fifth Asia Cup title, equalling India’s number of triumphs in the event initiated in 1984. First innings Left-hander Fawad Alam had capped a remarkable international return with a maiden hundred to lift Pakistan to 260-5 in the Asia Cup final in Dhaka on Saturday. Alam’s 114 not out helped Pakistan recover from an early devastation by paceman Lasith Malinga, who took the first three wickets to push Pakistan on to the back foot, and finished with 5-56. Earlier, Malinga rocked the innings with wickets of Sharjeel Khan (eight), Ahmed Shehzad (five) and Mohammad Hafeez (three) in his incisive four-over spell, pushing Pakistan to 18-3 by fifth over.