Sri Lanka eye Asia Cup success against India

DAMBULLA, June 23, 2010 (AFP) – Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lanka go into Thursday’s Asia Cup one-day final against India confident of securing a hat-trick of titles.

Sri Lanka, who won the last two editions of the region’s top one-day prize, in 2006 and 2008, are buoyant after thrashing India by seven wickets in a league match on Tuesday.

The prospect of winning a major one-day title in front of passionate home fans excited Sangakkara.

“A final is a final,” Sangakkara told reporters on Wednesday. “Winning an Asia Cup especially at home would be a special thing.

“It’s going to really inspire us and we are going to hit the ground running and really try and win it.

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Sri Lanka and India qualified for the final after defeating Pakistan and Bangladesh, Asia’s other two Test nations, in the preliminary league.

Sangakkara said Tuesday’s win over India — which came without star bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekera, who were all rested — boosted his team’s morale.

“We are up for the challenge,” he said. “We feel good about the final.”

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his team was not under pre