Twenty20 cricket :

Sri Lanka fight for gold

Leslie FERNANDO reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Twenty20 cricket competition of the 11th South Asian reaches climax with Sri Lanka taking Bangladesh in the final today (7) at the Shere-Bangala national cricket stadium in Mirpur. The final will be a Day-night contest starting at 5.30 p.m.

In the league round matches played to decide the finalists Sri Lanka beat Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and lost to Pakistan (3-1) while Bangladesh beat Nepal, Maldevies, Pakistan and lost to Sri Lanka (3-1).

Pakistan also won three games against Nepal, Maldives and lost to Bangladesh (3-1).

All three teams won three games out of four but two top teams have qualified for the gold medal deciding match with better run rate.

Bangladesh convincing victory in the do-or-die game against Pakistan by 51 runs boosted the home team's net run rate and took them to the top of the five-team table.

Sri Lanka earlier confirmed their final berth with an emphatic 147 run victory over Maldives.

The home team will now fancy their chances of wining the gold in the event introduced in the games for the first time.

Sri Lanka team:

Azhan Priyanjana (Capt), Naveen Kavikara, Wimanga Perera, Imesh Udanga, M. Mazhir, Kusal Perera, Dilshan Munaweera. Anjelo Perera Chathuranga Silva, Ishan Jayaratne, Lahiru Thirimanna, Sachith Pathirana, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Hasitha Tillekaratne.