Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to clinch sixth Asia Cup title

• Pramod Madushan and Wanindu Hasaranga share seven wickets between them as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs.
• Sri Lanka were asked to bat first by Babar Azam after the latter won the toss at the start of the match.
• Rajapaksa smashed an unbeaten 71 to help Sri Lanka weather a top order collapse and reach 170-6 in first innings.

DUBAI: Sri Lanka were crowned Asia Cup champions for the sixth time after Bhanuka Rajapaksa's batting pyrotechnics and Wanindu Hasaranga's all-round brilliance secured their 23-run victory against Pakistan in the final on Sunday.

Rajapaksa smashed an unbeaten 71 to help Sri Lanka weather a top order collapse and reach 170-6 at the Dubai International Stadium.

When they returned, Hasaranga claimed three wickets in one over and Pramod Madushan claimed a career-best 4-34 to bowl out Pakistan for 147 in exactly 20 overs.

Put into bat, Sri Lanka were reeling at 58-5 in the ninth over after their top order wilted early.

Read more: Haris Rauf achieves milestone in T20 Asia Cup final

Naseem Shah began with a wide but soon redeemed himself by uprooting Kusal Mendis's off-stump with the third legitimate delivery of the day.

Haris Rauf removed Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka in successive overs and Iftikhar Ahmed took a sharp return catch to cut short Dhananjaya de Silva's knock of 28.

With Sri Lanka 67-5 at the halfway stage of their innings, Hasaranga (36) combined with Rajapaksa in their most productive partnership of 58 runs from 36 balls.

Rauf (3-29) removed Hasaranga but Rajapaksa remained unbeaten after an incendiary knock that included three sixes and six fours.

It was largely because of his 45-ball blitz that Sri Lanka plundered 103 runs from the last 10 overs.

Read more: Naseem Shah continues Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir's first-over-wicket legacy

When they returned, Madushan claimed two wickets in two balls to rock Pakistan.

Babar Azam was caught at short fine leg, while Fakhar Zaman dragged the next ball onto his stumps.

Madushan returned to dismiss Iftikhar (32) after the batsman had combined with Mohammad Rizwan (55) to revive their innings.

Hasaranga effectively derailed Pakistan's chase when the spinner dismissed the dangerous Rizwan, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in the same over.

The victory would taste even better for Sri Lanka, who could not host the tournament at home because of a political and economic crisis in the island nation though they retained the hosts' honour. 

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka.

Live updates of the match will appear below:

Pakistan won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first.

Sri Lanka win Asia Cup!

Pakistan after 20 overs: 147 - all out

Mohammad Hasnain 8

Chamika Karunaratne to Haris Rauf: OUT!

Chamika Karunaratne to Haris Rauf: SIX!

Chamika Karunaratne to Haris Rauf: No run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Hasnain: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Haris Rauf: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Haris Rauf: No run

Pakistan after 19 overs: 139/9

Mohammad Hasnain 7/Haris Rauf 6

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Hasnain: SIX!

Pramod Madushan to Haris Rauf: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Haris Rauf: WIDE!

Pramod Madushan to Haris Rauf: 4 runs!

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Hasnain: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Hasnain: No run

Pramod Madushan to Naseem Shah: OUT!

Pramod Madushan to Naseem Shah: 4 runs!

Pramod Madushan to Naseem Shah: WIDE!

Pakistan after 18 overs: 120/8

Naseem Shah 0/Haris Rauf 1

Maheesh Theekshana to Shadab Khan: OUT!

Maheesh Theekshana to Shadab Khan: 2 runs

Maheesh Theekshana to Haris Rauf: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Shadab Khan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Shadab Khan: 4 runs!

Pakistan after 17 overs: 112/7

Shadab Khan 1/Haris Rauf 0

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Haris Rauf: No run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Khushdil Shah: OUT!

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Asif Ali: OUT!

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Khushdil Shah: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: OUT!

Pakistan after 16 overs: 110/4

Mohammad Rizwan 54/Khushdil Shah 6

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: SIX!

Chamika Karunaratne to Khushdil Shah: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Khushdil Shah: No run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Nawaz: OUT!

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pakistan after 15 overs: 101/3

Mohammad Rizwan 47/Mohammad Nawaz 6

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: 2 runs

Dhananjaya de Silva to Mohammad Nawaz: 2 runs

Pakistan after 14 overs: 96/3

Mohammad Rizwan 47/Mohammad Nawaz 2

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: OUT!

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: WIDE!

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pakistan after 13 overs: 91/2

Mohammad Rizwan 44/Iftikhar Ahmed 32

Maheesh Theekshana to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 2 runs

Pakistan after 12 overs: 89/2

Mohammad Rizwan 41/Iftikhar Ahmed 32

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 2 runs

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 4 runs!

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: SIX!

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Pakistan after 11 overs: 74/2

Mohammad Rizwan 40/Iftikhar Ahmed 19

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 2 runs

Chamika Karunaratne to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Pakistan after 10 overs: 68/2

Mohammad Rizwan 36/Iftikhar Ahmed 17

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pakistan after 9 overs: 63/2

Mohammad Rizwan 33/Iftikhar Ahmed 15

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 2 runs

Maheesh Theekshana to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 4 runs!

Maheesh Theekshana to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 8 overs: 53/2

Mohammad Rizwan 25/Iftikhar Ahmed 13

Chamika Karunaratne to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 2 runs

Chamika Karunaratne to Mohammad Rizwan: 4 runs!

Pakistan after 7 overs: 43/2

Mohammad Rizwan 17/Iftikhar Ahmed 11

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run (leg bye)

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: 4 runs!

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Pakistan after 6 overs: 37/2

Mohammad Rizwan 16/Iftikhar Ahmed 6

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 2 runs

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Pakistan after 5 overs: 32/2

Mohammad Rizwan 15/Iftikhar Ahmed 2

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: 4 runs!

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Dilshan Madushanka to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Dilshan Madushanka to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: 2 runs

Pakistan after 4 overs: 24/2

Mohammad Rizwan 8/Iftikhar Ahmed 1

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Pramod Madushan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pramod Madushan to Fakhar Zaman: OUT!

Pramod Madushan to Babar Azam: OUT!

Pramod Madushan to Babar Azam: 2 runs

Pakistan after 3 overs: 20/0

Mohammad Rizwan 7/Babar Azam 3

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 4 runs!

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Pakistan after 2 overs: 16/0

Mohammad Rizwan 3/Babar Azam 3

Maheesh Theekshana to Babar Azam: 2 runs

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: WIDE!

Maheesh Theekshana to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Pakistan after 1 over: 12/0

Mohammad Rizwan 2/Babar Azam 1

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Dilshan Madushanka to Babar Azam: 1 run

Dilshan Madushanka to Babar Azam: No run

Dilshan Madushanka to Babar Azam: No run

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: WIDE!

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: WIDE! + 4 runs!

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: WIDE!

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: WIDE!

Dilshan Madushanka to Mohammad Rizwan: NO BALL!

Pakistan begin batting

Sri Lanka after 20 overs: 170/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 71/Chamika Karunaratne 14

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: SIX!

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: SIX!

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 2 runs

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 2 runs

Naseem Shah to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run 

Sri Lanka after 19 overs: 155/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 57/Chamika Karunaratne 13

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: SIX!

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run 

Sri Lanka after 18 overs: 147/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 50/Chamika Karunaratne 12

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 3 runs

Haris Rauf to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Chamika Karunaratne: 4 runs! (leg bye)

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 17 overs: 136/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 45/Chamika Karunaratne 10

Naseem Shah to Chamika Karunaratne: SIX!

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: SIX!

Naseem Shah to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run (bye)

Naseem Shah to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run (leg bye)

Sri Lanka after 16 overs: 120/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 38/Chamika Karunaratne 3 

Mohammad Nawaz to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Chamika Karunaratne: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Chamika Karunaratne: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Chamika Karunaratne: No run

Sri Lanka after 15 overs: 117/6

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 37/Chamika Karunaratne 1 

Haris Rauf to Chamika Karunaratne: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: OUT!

Haris Rauf to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 2 runs

Haris Rauf to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: No run 

Sri Lanka after 14 overs: 106/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 37/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 26

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run (leg bye)

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: No run

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: No run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 4 runs!

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 13 overs: 99/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 32/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 25

Mohammad Hasnain to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: SIX!

Mohammad Hasnain to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 2 runs

Mohammad Hasnain to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 4 runs!

Mohammad Hasnain to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run (leg bye)

Sri Lanka after 12 overs: 85/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 31/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 12

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 4 runs!

Iftikhar Ahmed to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 11 overs: 77/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 25/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 10

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 4 runs!

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 4 runs!

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Sri Lanka after 10 overs: 67/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 20/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 5

Iftikhar Ahmed to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: No run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 2 runs

Iftikhar Ahmed to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 9 overs: 62/5

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 16/Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 4

Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: 4 runs!

Shadab Khan to Dasun Shanaka: OUT!

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Shadab Khan to Dasun Shanaka: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 8 overs: 55/4

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 14/Dasun Shanaka 1

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Dasun Shanaka: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Dhananjaya de Silva: OUT!

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Iftikhar Ahmed to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 4 runs!

Iftikhar Ahmed to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 7 overs: 47/3

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 8/Dhananjaya de Silva 27

Shadab Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 1 run 

Shadab Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run 

Sri Lanka after 6 overs: 42/3

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 6/Dhananjaya de Silva 24

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 2 runs

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: No run

Haris Rauf to Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Danushka Gunathilaka: OUT! 

Sri Lanka after 5 overs: 36/2

Danushka Gunathilaka 1/Dhananjaya de Silva 24

Mohammad Hasnain to Danushka Gunathilaka: 1 run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Danushka Gunathilaka: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 4 runs!

Mohammad Hasnain to Danushka Gunathilaka: 1 run (leg bye)

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Sri Lanka after 4 overs: 28/2

Danushka Gunathilaka 0/Dhananjaya de Silva 18

Haris Rauf to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Dhananjaya de Silva: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Haris Rauf to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Haris Rauf to Pathum Nissanka: OUT!

Haris Rauf to Pathum Nissanka: No run

Sri Lanka after 3 overs: 23/1

Pathum Nissanka 8/Dhananjaya de Silva 13

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Dhananjaya de Silva: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: 4 runs!

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: No run

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: No run

Sri Lanka after 2 overs: 16/1

Pathum Nissanka 2/Dhananjaya de Silva 12

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 2 runs

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 4 runs!

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: WIDE!

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Dhananjaya de Silva: 4 runs!

Mohammad Hasnain to Pathum Nissanka: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Pathum Nissanka: No run

Sri Lanka after 1 over: 4/1

Pathum Nissanka 1/Dhananjaya de Silva 2

Naseem Shah to Dhananjaya de Silva: 2 run

Naseem Shah to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Naseem Shah to Dhananjaya de Silva: No run

Naseem Shah to Kusal Mendis: OUT!

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: No run

Naseem Shah to Pathum Nissanka: WIDE!