Sri Lanka clinch Asia Cup 2014

Sri Lanka claimed a brutally efficient five-wicket victory over efending champions Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2014 final in Dhaka on Saturday.

Going into the final with a perfect record throughout the competition, a five-wicket haul from Lasith Malinga and opener Lahiru Thirimanne's fluent century guided Sri Lanka to glory.

Sri Lanka were clinical as they restricted Pakistan to a modest 260-5 and then overhauled the target with 22 balls to spare to lift their fifth Asia Cup title. The last time they won the regional championship was in 2008.

Pakistan won the toss and Misbah-ul-Haq opted to bat first. Malinga pegged Pakistan back as he demolished the rival top order with his fierce pace and it was Fawad Alam's magnificent unbeaten 114 that guided to a respectable score.

Riding on the century of Thirimanne, Sri Lanka chased the total of 261 runs with an ease. Mahela, who was out of form, too contributed well with the bat and stitched a crucial partnership of 156 runs for the third wicket with Thirimanne to chase the target quite comfortably.

They have been the most consistent team throughout the tournament and their all-round quality shined through in this final.

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Asia Cup: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane anchor India to six-wicket win over Bangladesh

India began their Asia Cup campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh.

A 213-run stand between Virat Kohli (136) and Ajinkya Rahane (73) helped India beat Bangladesh by six wickets.

The 19th century (136 off 122 balls) of India's stand-in skipper Virat Kohli has equalling Brian Lara with his 19th One Day International century, against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup on Wednesday. Now, Kohli is joint seventh on highest century-makers in ODIs. The list is headed by Sachin Tendulkar with 49.

Earlier, Kohli won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat. The home team were without injured opener Tamim Iqbal and premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had hit a sparkling ton to help the hosts post a challenging 279 for seven.

While Rahim's excellent knock went in vain, Kohli's effort resulted in victory of his team.

India will take on Sri Lanka on Friday.

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List of Asia Cup champions

The 12th edition of the Asia Cup will get under way in Bangladesh. Asia Cup will be contested between Asian countries India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (introduced in 2014 edition).

The first Asia Cup was played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1983-84. India won the inaugural tournament, defeating Sri Lanka.

India is the most successful team with five titles. Here is the list of previous Asia Cup champions starting from the inaugural edition in 1983-84.

Year Host Champion Runner-Up 1984 UAE India Sri Lanka 1986 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Pakistan 1988 Bangladesh India Sri Lanka 1990-91 India India Sri Lanka 1993 Pakistan (Cancelled) 1995 UAE India Sri Lanka 1997 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India 2000 Bangladesh Pakistan Sri Lanka 2004 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India 2008 Pakistan Sri Lanka India 2010 Sri Lanka India Sri Lanka 2012 Bangladesh Pakistan Bangladesh 2014 Bangladesh TBD TBD

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Asia Cup 2014 - match Time table & fixtures

The 12^th edition of Asia Cup is hosting in Bangladesh from 25th February to 8th March 2014. Bangladesh hosting second consecutive year and fourth overall. Five teams comprising of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are scheduled to participate for this biggest tournament played at the Asian level. The two venues are Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur and Fatullah Osmani Stadium at Fatullah.

With the schedule of the tournament out, all eyes remain fixed on the Super Sunday of 2nd March for the mouth watering clash between neighbours and cricketing rivals India and Pakistan. India has emerged at the winner in their last meeting in the rain affected Champions Trophy match last June, where they beat Pakistan by 8 wickets. Pakistan would be eager to repay their last match kindness back to Virat Kohli led side.

India would start the contest on 26th February against the host nation Bangladesh at Fatullah. India is coming into this tournament without the services of its regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India has won the trophy 5 times.

Take a look at the complete schedule with match Time table and fixtures detail of Asia Cup 2014:

DATE MATCH VENUE Tue, Feb. 25 Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka Fatullah Wed, Feb. 26 Bangladesh vs. India Fatullah Thu, Feb. 27 Afghanistan vs. Pakistan Fatullah Fri, Feb. 28 India vs. Sri Lanka Fatullah Sat, Mar. 1 Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan Fatullah Sun, Mar. 2 India vs. Pakistan Dhaka Mon, Mar. 3 Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka Dhaka Tue, Mar. 4 Bangladesh vs. Pakistan Dhaka Wed, Mar. 5 Afghanistan vs. India Dhaka Thu, Mar. 6 Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Dhaka Sat, Mar. 8 FINAL Dhaka

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