However, the very next ball, Samarawickrama stepped out to Iftikhar Ahmed, flicking for the non-existent spin, and getting stumped in the process. Another 33-run stand ensued, between Asalanka and Mendis, but the latter popped a leading edge to cover where Mohammad Haris picked up a phenomenal catch diving forward.

And then, it began – a procession, that started at 210-3 and ended at 246-8 to give us a thrilling finish. Shanaka departed soon after, once again to Iftikhar, who was proving to be a thorn in Sri Lanka’s flesh. At the other end, Asalanka kept up with the required rate with some well-timed boundaries, but it was then that Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up two wickets in an over, giving away just four runs, and leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position – 8 to win off 6, with three wickets remaining.

A headless Pramod was run-out in the final over, but not before giving Asalanka the strike. The latter was under pressure after Zaman Khan had conceded only two off the first four, but edged the penultimate ball for four to tilt the balance Sri Lanka’s way. The final ball was a slower half-volley on the pads, that Asalanka clipped away to win the match, sending the Colombo crowd into delirium over an hour past midnight.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but lost Fakhar Zaman early. After Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam’s half-century stand, Pakistan were ailed by a middle-order collapse before the rain break, imploding to 130-5. However, a century stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed rescued them, and a late counterattack by the pair took Pakistan to a competitive total, which proved just short of enough in the end.

This is the eleventh time Sri Lanka have made it to the Asia Cup final. They will face India in the final on Sunday (September 17).

Brief Scores:
Pakistan 252-7 in 42 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 86*, Abdullah Shaique 52, Matheesha Pathirana 3-65) lost to Sri Lanka 252-8 in 42 overs (Kusal Mendis 91, Charith Asalanka 49*, Iftikhar Ahmed 3-50) by 2 wickets (DLS method)