Sports Reporter : Favourites Sri Lanka clinched the 12th Asia Cup defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. Chasing Pakistan’s score of 260 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 50 overs, Sri Lanka cruised into the winning spot making 261 for the loss of five wickets when they had 22 balls to spare. Sri Lanka made a good start scoring 56 for the loss of one wicket. Opener Kusal Perera was stumped out by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal off Saeed Ajmal. Then in-form Kumar Sangakkara was trapped leg before wicket by Saeed Ajmal for a duck when the islanders total was 56 for the loss of two wickets. Later, Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardedne salvaged their team from calamity contributing together 156 runs in the third wicket stand before Mahela was caught at the cover by Sharjeel Khan off Mohammad Talha when the islanders total was 212 for the loss of three wickets. Lahiru Thirimanne hit a terrific 101. His 108-ball knock was studded with 13 boundaries. It was Thirimanne’s 3rd ODI century. Thirimanne was cleanly bowled out by Saeed Ajmal when Sri Lanka’s total was 247 for the loss of five wickets. Mahela notched up a superb 75. His 93-ball innings was ornamented with nine boundaries and one over boundary. It was Mahela’s 71st ODI half century. Opener Kusal Perera hit 42 off 37 balls with six fours and a six. Saeed Ajmal was the most successful bowler for the losers. He harpooned three wickets for 26 runs. Earlier, right-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga bowled extremely well capturing all the five Pakistani wickets at the cost of 56 runs and played the key role to restrict Pakistan to a modest total. Pakistan made a disastrous start losing their early three wickets for just 18 runs. Then, Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Fawad Alam rescued Pakistan from early debacle contributing together 122 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Misbah-ul-Haq was caught at the long-on by Kusal Perera off Lasith Malinga when Pakistan’s total was 140 for the loss of four wickets. Fawad Alam remained unbeaten with 114. His 134-ball sparkling innings was laced with eight boundaries and three over boundaries. It was Fawad Alam’s maiden ODI century. Misbah-ul-Haq knocked a patient 65 from 98 balls featuring three fours and two sixes. It was Misbah’s 37th ODI half century. After the dismissal of Misbah, Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal put up together 115 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Akmal was caught at the backward point by Ashan Priyanjan off Lasith Malinga when the Pakistan’s score was 255 for the loss of five wickets. Wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal hit a brilliant 59 from 42 balls with seven shots across the ropes. It was Umar Akmal’s 19th half century.