June 28, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 23, 1429

LAHORE, June 27: Off-spinner Ajantha Mendis’ recorded a five-wicket haul as defending champions Sri Lanka outplayed a spirited United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 142 runs in a Group ‘A’ match to cruise into the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday night (also partly reported in Friday’s edition).

Set 291 for victory, only opener Amjad Ali (77 off 79 balls) was the main hurdle for Sri Lanka as no one from the UAE side could resist as the entire side was dismissed for a paltry 148 in 36.3 overs.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

K. Sangakkara lbw b Shah 0

M. Udawatte c Tauqir b Alhashmi 67

M. Jayawardene run out 61

C. Kapugedera c Amjad b Tauqir 11

C. Silva c Batuwitarachchi b Tauqir 6

T. Dilshan c Amjad b Alhashmi 24

K. Weeraratne c Batuwitarachchi b Saqib 40

T. Thushara c Amjad b Shah 10

N. Kulasekera c Khurrum b Shah 38

D. Fernando not out 15

A. Mendis not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-6, W-11) 18

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 290

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-114, 3-131, 4-142, 5-180, 6-189, 7-209, 8-262, 9-286.

BOWLING: Shah 10-1-49-3; Alhashmi 5-0-39-2 (6w); Aman 2-0-22-0 (2w); Saqib 7-0-45-1 (1w); Tauqir 10-0-47-2 (1w); Khurrum 10-0-55-0 (1w); Arshad 6-0-26-0.

UAE:

Amjad Ali c Weeraratne b Dilshan 77

Arshad Ali run out 6

Batuwitarachchi c Sangakkara b Thushara 14

Saqib Ali lbw b Mendis 19

Khurrum Khan c Sangakkara b Thushara 2

Mohammad Tauqir lbw b Fernando 9

N. Fernandes st Sangakkara b Mendis 5

Alavi Shukri c Jayawardene b Mendis 1

Zahid Shah not out 6

Fahad Alhashmi lbw b Mendis 0

Aman Ali lbw b Mendis 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, NB-2, W-5) 9

TOTAL (all out, 36.3 overs) 148

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-95, 3-107, 4-114, 5-133, 6-139, 7-141, 8-142, 9-148.

BOWLING: Kulasekera 5-2-25-0 (2w); Weeraratne 4-1-23-0; Fernando 7-0-40-1 (2nb); Mendis 6.3-1-22-5 (1w); Dilshan 7-2-14-1 (1w); Thushara 7-0-22-2 (1w).

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by 142 runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).

UMPIRES: Simon Taufel (Australia) and Ian Gould (England).

TV UMPIRE: Amish Saheba (India).

MATCH REFEREE: Mike Procter (South Africa).