Pakistan bowed out of the Asia Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dhaka.
Both teams badly needed a morale boost for the start of the ICC World Twenty20 in this dead-rubber after underwhelming campaigns, in which they previously had just a solitary success each over the United Arab Emirates to show for their efforts.
Tillakaratne Dilshan returned to form with an unbeaten 75 and Dinesh Chandimal made 58 to put Sri Lanka on course for a big total.
#PAKvSL Pakistan win by 6 wickets, PAK 151/4 (19.2 ov) Umar Akmal 48, Sarfraz Ahmed 38 v SL 150 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/WEaBMFRj36
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) March 4, 2016
The opening pair put on 110 together, and hit 17 fours and two sixes between them, but Mohammad Irfan returned to take two wickets in four balls in his final over as Pakistan restricted the reigning World T20 champions to 150 for four.
Pakistan’s chase then always appeared on track, Umar Akmal top-scoring with 48 off 37 balls as Shahid Afridi’s men completed victory with four deliveries to spare.
World Twenty20 hosts India will face Bangladesh in the tournament final on Sunday.
Source: ECB