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.
<img title="Lahiru Thirimanne" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/mar/Lahiru-Thirimanne0903.jpg" alt="" /> Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimanne celebrates his century in Dhaka on Saturday. Pic/AFP.
The left-hander notched 101 for his third one-day hundred to anchor Sri Lanka&rsquo;s successful chase of a 261-run target in 46.2 overs for his country&rsquo;s fifth Asia Cup title at the Shere Bangla Stadium.
<img title="Lasith Malinga" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/mar/Lasith-Malinga0903.jpg" alt="" /> Lasith Malinga (third from right) celebrates the wicket of Pakistan&rsquo;s Ahmed Shehzad with teammates in Dhaka on Saturday
Thirimanne, who also scored a hundred in the tournament&rsquo;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 teammate Mahela Jayawardene, who made 75.
Pakistan&rsquo;s main spin weapon Saeed Ajmal had broken through after Sri Lanka&rsquo;s confident start of 56, dismissing Kusal Perera (42) and dangerman Kumar Sangakkara (nought) off successive deliveries.&nbsp;Thirimanne, who reached his hundred with a single off Khan, was finally bowled by Ajmal 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.
<img title="Fawad Alam" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/mar/Fawad-Alam0903.jpg" alt="" /> Pakistan's Fawad Alam, who scored an unbeaten 114
Recovery Alam&rsquo;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.
Alam 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.&nbsp;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.

Lasith Malinga's 5-56 and Lahiru Thirimanne's 101 guide Sri Lanka to their fifth Asia Cup title

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win Asia Cup

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Lasith Malinga's 5-56 and Lahiru Thirimanne's 101 guide Sri Lanka to their fifth Asia Cup title

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win Asia Cup

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Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win Asia Cup

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