Ajantha Mendis bowled Sri Lanka to Asia Cup glory with six wickets to secure a100-run victory over India in Karachi.
Spinner Mendis claimed figures of 6-13 from eight overs to ruin India's pursuit of a target of 274.
After surprisingly being asked to bat on a placid surface at the National Stadium in Karachi, Sri Lanka recovered from 66-4 thanks to a magnificent century from Sanath Jayasuriya.
The opening batsman smashed 125 off 114 balls - the evergreen 39-year-old's 27th one-day international hundred coming in his 416th appearance - to help his side up to 273 all out, one ball short of using the full 50-over allocation.
The early run-out of Kumar Sangakkara (four) was followed by a three-wicket burst from Ishant Sharma (3-52) that put India in charge.
Crucial stand
But Jayasuriya shared a fifth-wicket stand of 131 in 23.3 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (56) to turn the momentum firmly back in Sri Lanka's favour before both batsmen fell in the chase for quick runs in the final 15 overs.
India lost Gautam Gambhir (6) early in their run chase, but the runs flowed as Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina kept up with the required rate.
But the introduction of Mendis in the 10th over turned the game on its head. He removed Sehwag (60), Yuvraj Singh (0), Raina (16) and Rohit Sharma (three) to leave India reelng on 97-5.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (49) attempted to rebuild the innings in the company of Robin Uthappa (20), but the latter's dismissal triggered another collapse that saw India all out in just 39.3 overs.
The result gives Sri Lanka their fourth Asia Cup title, adding to triumphs in 1986,1997 and 2004.
Spinner Mendis claimed figures of 6-13 from eight overs to ruin India's pursuit of a target of 274.
After surprisingly being asked to bat on a placid surface at the National Stadium in Karachi, Sri Lanka recovered from 66-4 thanks to a magnificent century from Sanath Jayasuriya.
The opening batsman smashed 125 off 114 balls - the evergreen 39-year-old's 27th one-day international hundred coming in his 416th appearance - to help his side up to 273 all out, one ball short of using the full 50-over allocation.
The early run-out of Kumar Sangakkara (four) was followed by a three-wicket burst from Ishant Sharma (3-52) that put India in charge.
Crucial stand
But Jayasuriya shared a fifth-wicket stand of 131 in 23.3 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (56) to turn the momentum firmly back in Sri Lanka's favour before both batsmen fell in the chase for quick runs in the final 15 overs.
India lost Gautam Gambhir (6) early in their run chase, but the runs flowed as Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina kept up with the required rate.
But the introduction of Mendis in the 10th over turned the game on its head. He removed Sehwag (60), Yuvraj Singh (0), Raina (16) and Rohit Sharma (three) to leave India reelng on 97-5.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (49) attempted to rebuild the innings in the company of Robin Uthappa (20), but the latter's dismissal triggered another collapse that saw India all out in just 39.3 overs.
The result gives Sri Lanka their fourth Asia Cup title, adding to triumphs in 1986,1997 and 2004.