The Asia Cup is proving to be a two-horse race. India and Sri Lanka with their all-win record are the overwhelming favourites to win the title. And in the same breadth it could be added that Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis — with 22 scalps between them — happen to be the two Lankan spinners fighting to be the top wicket-taker in this tournament.

It’s easy to say that an India versus Lanka game on Thursday could be a possible dress rehearsal for the final. Adding spice to the contest will be the face off between Murali-Mendis and the in-form Indian batting line-up that includes Suresh Raina and Virender Sehwag — two batsmen with the highest aggregates in the tournament.

So far Murali has eight wickets from three games, while Mendis has 11 from four games. Thursday might see Murali overtake Mendis or the young turk take an unassailable lead over the old master. Today it was Murali’s day and his five-wicket haul — along with Sanath Jayasuriya’s century — helped Lanka record a convincing 158-run win over Bangladesh.

Against Pakistan when Mendis took four wickets, skipper Mahela Jayawardene was at hand to add more mystery to the young spinner. “Does he bowl leg-spin? We’ve asked him to stick to his strength, the stock ball. But he’s free to go about with what he prefers,” he said.

The skipper was too happy to ignore what Mendis was bowling as long as he got wickets. “We have made him a regular feature in the team because we want to nurture him while Murali is at the top of his bowling,” he added.

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