Former Sri Lankan skipper and STAR Cricket expert Marvan Atapattu said Sri Lanka had a dream match against Pakistan.

Atapattu was overwhelmed by the contributions of the younger players in the team: "We are getting there in terms of all the younger players."

"The younger players are taking up the responsibilty and are performing to their capabilities."

Sri Lanka's win against Pakistan in Karachi in the Super Four stage of the STAR Cricket Asia Cup was a story of the island nations's younger brigade coming to the party on the international stage.

Ajantha Mendis, Kulasekara, Chamara Silva and Chamara Kapudegera were outstanding for Sri Lanka on Sunday.

"Sri Lanka had a plan and they executed it well. They filled up the first overs with pace, dried up the runs and then attacked with the spinners," said an elated Atapattu at the end of the match.

Former Australian batting great and expert cricket commentator Ian Chappell said good things are happening for Sri Lankan cricket: "Sri Lanka's confidence is on the up. The youngsters are coming good. Mendis bowled with accuracy and confidence. He knew what he was doing in the middle."

So the STAR Cricket Asia Cup has just not been a story of India's young guns firing on all cylinders. Sri Lanka too have heralded the dawn of a new era.

Atapattu said as much: "Earlier Sri Lanka had to depend on Jayasuriya scoring the runs and Murali and Vaas getting the wickets. But now we have youngsters coming in and absorbing the pressure. This can only be good news for Sri Lankan cricket."