Asia Cup: UAE opts to ball, restrict Sri Lanka for 129 runs

But after they were out, the UAE put the brakes on Sri Lanka and set a target it could chase.

Sri Lanka started off their Asia Cup campaign with an easy win over the lower-ranked qualifier UAE.

Opener Dinesh Chandimal top scored for Sri Lanka with 50 and his fellow opener Tillakaratne Dilshan added 27.

A spirited UAE attack restricted Sri Lanka to a below-par 129-8 but their batsmen found the Sri Lankan bowlers too hot to handle before they were finally reduced to 115-9.

Compared to the other four teams, UAE lack experience for the big stage and it remains to be seen whether they can cope up with the pressure. If it was not for the bowling, there could have been a huge upset.

Sri Lankans were very disappointing today with the bat.

In reply, UAE lost wickets at regular intervals as they could manage only 115/9 in 20 overs. This total also happens to their lowest against an associate nation.

UAE skipper Amjad Javed lead from the front after dismissing both openers and Milinda Siriwardana in three consecutive overs. Meanwhile, captain Amjad Javed bagged three wickets.

Amjad Javed (capt), Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Swapnil Patil, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Shahzad, Saqlain Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Muhammad Kaleem, Muhammad Usman.

Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga cherish after striking in the 1st ball of the 1st over. Mohammad Shahzad was then clean bowled off the last ball of the same over.