KARACHI, July 6: Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis produced one of the most amazing bowling performances in the history of One-Day Internationals as Sri Lanka defeated India by 100 runs to retain the Asia Cup cricket title at the National Stadium here on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Mendis returned the remarkable figures of six wickets for 13 runs in eight overs as India were dismissed for 173 in 39.3 overs after Sri Lanka had set them a target of 274 in the day-night final.
Sri Lanka, who equalled India’s record of four Asia Cup titles after winning their first final outside home, had scored 273 in 49.5 overs after being asked to bat first by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Opener Sanath Jayasuriya was the backbone of their innings with 125 while Tillekeratne Dilshan made 56.
India made a rapid start to the run chase. Virender Sehwag thrashed 12 boundaries in scoring 60 off 36 balls before the rot set in. The introduction of Mendis dramatically derailed their innings as the spinner, playing only in his eighth one-dayer, took four wickets for seven runs in 19 sensational deliveries.
Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh both fell in Mendis’s first over. They were quickly followed by Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma. Muttiah Muralitharan trapped Robin Uthappa leg-before-wicket for 20.
Dhoni waged a one-man battle, but it was too late as Mendis came back to dismiss Irfan Pathan and R.P. Singh on successive balls. Dhoni was ninth out for 49 before Nuwan Kulasekara clean bowled tailender Ishant Sharma to end the match.
Mendis, declared both Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Tournament, finished with 17 wickets in the tournament which was hosted for the first time by Pakistan.
President Pervez Musharraf, who graced the final as the chief guest, awarded the Asia Cup trophy besides the winners’ cheque for US$60,000 to Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene. Dhoni received the runners-up prize of $30,000 on behalf of his team.
