ONCE AGAIN on Sunday (July 6), team India failed to overcome their final-phobia and lost the final against Srilanka. Not only final-phobia, but the Mendis effect also outplayed India in final of Asia Cup. Dhoni and his young side, who defeated the Lankans in ’super four stage’ could not revive the same magic in Karachi. Indian seamer Ishant Sharma destroyed the Srilankan top order with his superb bowling. Sri Lanka suffered the blow in early stage of the game as they lost Kumar Sangakkara (four), Mahela Jayawardene (11), C Kapugedera (five) and Chamara Silva (0).

Once struggling at 66 for four in 12 overs, Srilanka came back strongly into the game due to hard hitting Sanath Jayasuriya. The 39-year-old left hander did not allow further damage to his side and put on 131 runs in the company of Tillakaratne Dilshan. Jayasuriya hit 125 off just 114 balls with nine boundaries and five towering sixes. Dilshan also gave a valuable contribution of 56 from 74 balls including three boundaries. After early attacks, Jayasuriya and Dilshan tried to build a big partnership and did not score a single boundary for more than 15 overs.

The extra caution became lethal for Jayasuriya and he was caught at the fence by Ishant Sharma off Sehwag. Very soon, Dilshan also returned to pavilion, trapped behind the wicket by Dhoni off Irfan Pathan. Having lost six wickets for 213 in 38.5 overs, Srilankans were again in trouble, but the tail enders took their team to a respectable total of 273. Ishant Sharma was the top Indian bowler and claimed three wickets for 52 runs in 10 overs. Irfan Pathan took two wickets, while RP Singh who gave 26 runs in one over, claimed three wickets. Virender Sehwag claimed important wicket of Jayasuriya having the impressive figures of one for 30 in eight overs.

Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag started the run chase in an impressive way. Sehwag was looking in fine touch and scored four boundaries in one over of Thilan Mirando and Gambhir was giving good support to him from one end. However, Gambhir failed against experienced bowler Vass and returned to pavilion after scoring six runs. In-form Raina joined Sehwag and the runs were easily coming for India. Srilanka were looking helpless as India were scoring over 7.5 runs per over.

At that time, Indians were looking in a very good position and it seemed that they would chase the target easily. But, Srilankan captain Mahela Jayawardene had different ideas in his mind and used his trump card, Mendis. The spinner struck twice in the over and removed well-set Sehwag (60, 36b, 4x12) and Yuvraj Singh (0). From 76 for one, India was reduced to 76 for three in the same over. Indian captain Dhoni and Raina tried to play cautiously against unexpected bowler Mendis, but all in vain. Mendis claimed wickets of Raina and Rohit Sharma.

Half of the Indian side was back into the pavilion in the 16th over. The only hope for India was Dhoni, but he did not get support from the other end. Robin Uthappa, after giving a small contribution of 20 runs, got trapped before the wicket off Muralitharan. Mendis continued his dangerous bowling and dismissed Irfan Pathan and RP Singh further. By dismissing Dhoni (49, 74, 4x4), Vass closed all the doors of hopes for the Indian team. Medium pacer N Kulasekara fulfilled the formalities by dismissing last man Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup four times, this being the third time in a row. Ajanta Mendis got the ’Man of the Match’ and ’Man of the Series’ awards for his superb bowling in the final and the tournament as well. Despite fine performance in the tournament, team India lost one more final. We can’t deny the fact that team India is still struggling from final-phobia. Let us see how Dhoni and his young brigade come out from this illusion.