DHAKA: Sri Lanka have not won a major title for a long while and captain Angelo Mathews said that his side were happy to have broken the “barrier of finals” by defeating Pakistan in the summit clash to lift the Asia Cup here on Saturday.
Sri Lanka were runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 50-over World Cups as well as in the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012. They were also the runners-up in the 2010 edition of the Asia Cup.
“We wanted to break the barrier between us and the finals. Big victory not only for me, but for the whole team. Haven’t won a major tournament for a while,” Mathews said after Sri Lanka regained the Asia Cup title, which they had last won in 2008.
“Credit to the whole team. I thought the toss wasn’t crucial and Lasith (Malinga) set us up wonderfully. It was a very good run-chase,” he added.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq attributed the loss to his side’s inability to execute the plans.
“It was not the pressure of the final. Just didn’t execute our plans. We wanted not to give Lasith any wickets and in the end he took all our wickets.
Lankan opening batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, who hit 101 and was adjudged Player-of-the-Series, said, “Actually, I just wanted to play the anchor role today. We knew 260 was gettable but one man has to take up the responsibility and play through the innings. I am happy I did that. (PTI)