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Sri Lanka determined to end India final hex

Sri Lanka has lost to India in four finals in the past two years at home, with the most recent being the Asia Cup in June.

The hosts lost a five-match bilateral series 3-2 in 2008 and another 4-1 in early 2009. Later that year India beat Sri Lanka in a tri-series final also involving New Zealand.

The two teams will meet again in the final of the current tri-series, which featured New Zealand again as the third team.

“They (India) lifted themselves for the finals and outplayed us in many occasions,” Sangakkara said.

“You got to give credit when a side wins consistently. We’ve been to a lot of finals as well we’ve just got to make sure that we lift ourselves tomorrow for a special effort.”

India’s opener Virender Sehwag has been the live wire in India’s batting in the series, scoring 240 runs in four matches with a century and a 99 not out.

“A lot of people have tried a lot of plans but he’s (Sehwag) an excellent player if we can get him early it will be an advantage,” Sangakkara said of the Indian batsman.

He also urged Sri Lanka batsmen to learn from how Sehwag has managed to score heavily on bowling-friendly pitches at Dambulla.

“You can’t bat all the time in the same way. You got to adapt to situations, pitches and the bowlers. He has adapted himself well and our batsmen too have something to learn from him,” Sangakkara said.