spinner Ajantha Mendis took career-best figures of five for 22 to help Sri Lanka cruise to a 142-run win over United Arab Emirates in their Asia Cup one-day match in Lahore on Thursday. Mendis punished the inexperienced opponents as they lost their last six wickets for just 15 runs and were bowled out for 148, chasing a Sri Lankan total of 290 for nine. Mendis bowled just 6.3 overs to take his flattering figures after Amjad Ali had made a knock of 77 from 79 balls that included 12 boundaries. Sri Lanka rested Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas but did not miss the trio as Mahela Udawatte and captain Mahela Jayawardene scored half centuries to build a strong total. The Emirate bowlers had restricted Sri Lanka to 209 for seven after 34 overs after Udawatte and Jayawardene had put on a second wicket total of 114 in 82 balls. But fine late knocks of 40 from Kaushalya Weeraratne and 37 from Nuwan Kulusekara dampened an otherwise fine day for the UAE attack. Fahad Alhashmi took his first wicket against a Test-playing nation, off spinner Mohammad Tauqir was a constant danger and seamer Zahid Shah finished with 3 for 49 including the prized wicket of Kumar Sangakkara for a duck. Left-hander Sangakkara, who scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh on Wednesday, was trapped leg before in the first over of the day. Jayawardene, who made 61 from 43 balls with nine fours steadied the innings with a fine stand alongside Udawatte whose 67 included six fours. After Jayawardene was run out, Alhashmi dismissed Udawatte and Tillakaratne Dilshan (24) while Tauqir got rid of Chamara Silva for six to slice through the middle order. Weeraratne and Kulusekara then ensured Sri Lanka reached a big total before Mendis completed the rout. Australia eyes another win Australia captain Ricky Ponting wants his side to ride the wave of momentum from its victory in the opening match, and use it to win the second ODI against West Indies on Friday at Queen's Park Stadium. Australia leads the five-match series 1-0, after it successfully defended a victory target of 274 to complete an 84-run victory with 61 balls to spare in the first ODI on Tuesday at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex. Against this backdrop, Ponting has cautioned his side about allowing West Indies to gain any sort of traction in the series.
