COLOMBO, (Reuters) – India outplayed Sri Lanka in  all departments of the game yesterday to win the Asia Cup  final by 81 runs and record a fourth win in seven tournament  finals under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

India compiled an impressive 268 for six with opener and  man-of-the-match Dinesh Karthik striking 66 from 86 balls after  Dhoni had won the toss and decided to bat first in Dambulla.

Their pace attack then dismissed Sri Lanka for 187 from 44.4  overs.

Sri Lanka’s first five wickets fell for 51 runs and a late  rally by Thilina Kandamby (31) and Chamara Kapugedara (55 not  out) who put on 53 for the sixth wicket ended in a run out.

Left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra was the outstanding  bowler, picking up three of the top five wickets and ending with  figures of four for 40. He was well supported by Praveen Kumar  and Zaheer Khan who took three wickets between them.

India last won the Asia Cup in 1995 in Sharjah.