DHAKA: Opener Lahiru Thirimanne hit a magnificent century to help Sri Lanka thump Pakistan by five wickets to regain the Asia Cup title here 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 at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

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 solid 156-run third-wicket partnership with veteran team-mate 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.

Jayawardene, who had a poor run of scores with 13, nine, 14 and nought in the tournament, benefitted when wicket-keeper Umar Akmal dropped a regulation catch off Shahid Afridi.

Jayawardene, then 36, hit nine boundaries and a six before he holed out off paceman Mohammad Talha.

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

Thirimanne, who reached his hundred with a single off Junaid, was finally bowled by Saeed who finished with 3-26.

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

Earlier, Pakistan, who decided to bat after winning the toss, were helped to 260-5 by a brilliant unbeaten 114 by Fawad Alam and a solid 65 by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

Fawad’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 5-56.

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

Fawad, who returned to the team with a brilliant 74 against Bangladesh on Tuesday after a four-year absence, hit eight boundaries and three sixes off 134 balls.

Fawad became the first left-handed Pakistan batsman, other than openers, to hit a one-day century. He hit paceman Thisara Perera over long-on for a six to reach his century off 126 balls.

Umar hit seven boundaries to give impetus to the innings as Pakistan scored 101 in the last ten overs.

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 18-3 by the fifth over.

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

Misbah was ruled not out on 19 by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford when action replays suggested he edged Mathews to wicket-keeper Sangakkara.

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.

Five-time champions India, hosts Bangladesh and Afghanistan were the other teams in the competition. —AFP

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN: Sharjeel Khan c T. Perera b Malinga 8 Ahmed Shehzad c Sangakkara b Malinga 5 Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Malinga 3 Misbah-ul Haq c K. Perera b Malinga 65 Fawad Alam not out 114 Umar Akmal c b Malinga 59 Shahid Afridi not out 0 EXTRAS (LB-1, W-5) 6 TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 260 FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-17, 3-18, 4-140, 5-255. DID NOT BAT: Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan. BOWLING: Malinga 10-0-56-5; Lakmal 10-2-41-0 (2w); Senanayake 9-0-54-0; N.L.T.C. Perera 10-1-66-0 (2w); Mathews 7-1-23-0 (1w); de Silva 4-0-19-0. SRI LANKA: M.D.K.J. Perera st Umar Akmal b Saeed 42 H.D.R.L. Thirimanne b Saeed 101 K.C. Sangakkara lbw b Saeed 0 D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Sharjeel b Talha 75 A. Priyanjan c Umar Akmal b Junaid 13 A.D. Mathews not out 16 P.C. de Silva not out 6 EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-5, NB-1) 8 TOTAL (for five wkts, 46.5 overs) 261 FALL OF WKTS: 1-56, 2-56, 3-212, 4-233, 5-247. DID NOT BAT: N.L.T.C. Perera, S.M.S.M. Senanayake, S.L. Malinga, R.A.S. Lakmal. BOWLING: Mohammad Hafeez 9-0-42-0 (1w); Umar Gul 6-0-44-0 (1w); Junaid Khan 9-0-56-1; Saeed Ajmal 10-2-26-3 (3w); Mohammad Talha 6.2-0-56-1 (1nb); Shahid Afridi 6-0-35-0. RESULT: Sri Lanka won by five wickets. UMPIRES: N.J. Llong (England) and B.N.J. Oxenford (Australia). TV UMPIRE: C. K. Nandan (India). MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand). MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Lasith Malinga. MAN-OF-THE-TOURNAMENT: Lahiru Thirimanne.