Sri Lanka wins Asia Cup 2008, as India surrender before Ajantha Mendis

The victory target was only 274 for India, which played 7 batsmen in the final. Everyone predicted India to win the match easily. To justify that claim, Sehwag started in style, by scoring 60 off just 36 balls. But it was Ajantha Mendis who had the last laugh. The young, promising spinner removed Sehwag on the second ball of his first over. He then bowled Yuvraj out for duck.

The masscare continued, as none of the Indian batsmen could provide an answer to Ajantha Mendis' spin attack. Mendis turned out to be Sri Lanka's trump card in the crucial final. He was playing for the first time against India and what a match he had! It was a meek surrender by Indian batsmen. Besides Sehwag, only Dhoni offered some resistance, but he perished at 49. India finally bowled out for 173 in 39.3 overs. Sri Lanka won the final by 100 runs. Here's Sri Lanka's scorecard........

Ajantha Mendis took 6/13 in 8 overs. His victims included Sehwag, Yuvraj, Raina and Rohit Sharma. Vass took 2 wickets. Mendis was declared "Man of the Match" and "Man of the Series". He took 17 wickets in the tournament. Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup for the fourth time.