Sangakkara steers Sri Lanka to Asia Cup final

Kumar Sangakkara continued his sublime form in the Asia Cup to guide Sri Lanka to a massive 129-run win over Afghanistan in Mirpur.

Afghanistan's attack had successfully muzzled and gained the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanne in the sixth over when Sangakkara came to the crease. He began in familiar fashion by rotating the strike regularly while his partner, Kusal Perera took the initiative, smashing three fours and a six between the ninth and tenth overs to release the pressure. Sangakkara held an end up, while wickets continued to tumble at the other including Kusal's for 33.

Sangakkara eased to his third fifty of the series and set up the final surge from Angelo Mathews, who collected 45 runs from 41 balls and helped Sri Lanka post 253 in their innings.

Afghanistan's batsmen could not provide an encore of their heroics against Bangladesh a few days earlier. Losing wickets regularly, they crumbled to 124 in 38.4 overs. The win helped Sri Lanka qualify for the final of the Asia Cup, that will be played on March 8.

"It was a tough wicket to bat on," said Sangakkara. "So we had to spend some time to build a foundation.

"You can't take anything for granted, the Afghan team played very well, they exploited the pitch very well," he added. "There is nothing guaranteed in cricket, you can be in fine form, but it takes only one ball for you to get out, so you have to enjoy while it goes well."