Defending champion Sri Lanka and ever-improving India look to be the teams to beat when the Super Four round-robin stage of the Asia Cup begins from Saturday. Both teams carried forward two crucial points into the next round from group-stage victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan – the other two qualifiers. “It's like a dual victory for us because we would be going with plus two advantage in the next stage,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after the six-wicket win over Pakistan on Friday in which opening batsman Virender Sehwag blazed a 95-ball 119. Minnow United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong were the two teams to make a predictable early exit from the ninth edition of the tournament after they finished their respective group matches without a win. India will take on Bangladesh in the first Super Four game Saturday with all the top order batsmen getting some useful runs in the two group matches. Batting seems to be the strength of this young India team with the likes of hard-hitting Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni in the line-up. Left-handed Raina, who scored his maiden one-day international century against UAE in their group match, blasted another 84 against Pakistan and featured in a match-winning 198-run stand with Sehwag. Sri Lanka is also getting into the rhythm to defend its title with convincing victories against Bangladesh and the UAE. Kumar Sangakkara made a century against Bangladesh while experienced Sanath Jayasuriya also scored an explosive 72 in the same game. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who arrived in Karachi on Friday after group games in Lahore, was pleased with his team's form. “There have been lot of expectations to win the (Asia) Cup but we have to play hard cricket to reach the final first and win it,” Jayawardene said. “We have shown lot of maturity so it will be important to keep the rhythm going.” Pakistan's frontline fast bowler Umar Gul will, meanwhile, miss the remainder of the Asia Cup due to side strain. Gul bowled only eight deliveries against India Thursday. – AP __
