Sri Lanka brought India down to earth to win the Asia Cup Emerging Team final by three runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
Going into the match with an unbeaten record, India were restricted to 267 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs as Sri Lanka defended a target of 270.
Once again it was that man Kamindu Mendis who top scored with 61 to pocket the player of the final and series awards.
Earlier in the day Hasitha Boyagoda held the innings together with a contribution of 54 after he lost his opening partner Sandun Weerakkody for 4.
But Mendis ensured that Sri Lanka did not blow away the initiative as he anchored the batting to hit one six and four fours before leaving the crease with three balls left in the innings and his team placed at 267 for 7.
In chasing down the target India got off to a shaky start and lost the first wicket that of AK Bains who was out for 9 and then kept on losing wickets at regular intervals to end up at 83 for 5 at one stage.
One of them to be dismissed was India’s top run-maker in the qualifying round games Himmat Singh who was bowled by Shehan Jayasuriya for 18.
Jayasuriya was also responsible for the run-out of lower order batsman Shams Mulani who threatened to bring India back into the match with 46 in the latter stages.
Scores:
Sri Lanka Emerging Team 270 for 7 in 50 overs (Hasitha Boyagoda 54, Avishka Fernando 29, Shehan Jayasuriya 46, Shammu Ashan 20, Kamindu Mendis 61, Hasaranga de Silva 31 n.o)
India Emerging Team 267 for 9 in 50 overs (RD Gaikwad 31, Himmat Singh 18, N Rana 40, J Yadav 71, S Mulani 46, A Sheth 28 n.o, Shehan Jayasuriya 2 for 40, Lasith Embuldeniya 2 for 37, Asela Gunaratne 3 for 38)