It was the full Pakistan experience at the MCG, a ground where they have so much great history. They were hopeless, then thrilling, then hopeless, then thrilling. And then Australia won, without much conviction. But they did what they do thanks to a sizzling spell from Mitchell Starc  and yet another nerveless chasing masterclass from the ice-cool captain Pat Cummins  in the face of what looked like a match-winning three-wicket haul from Harris Rauf , heroics with bat and ball from Naseem Shah  and some crafty captaincy from new skipper Mohammad Rizwan .

The 25,831-strong crowd looked sparse in the gargantuan MCG. But it sounded like 100,000, and it felt like it was in Lahore, as Pakistan fans drowned out the locals to help keep their side in the game. But there was only so much they could do, as Pakistan found a way to lose despite being on the brink of one of the great ODI heists.

Chasing just 204 after Starc took 3 for 33 from 10 overs, including three maidens, Australia slumped from 139 for 3, after Stevsn Smith  and Josh Inglis  were in control, to 155 for 7 on the back of Rauf’s raucous burst. That became 185 for 8 when Sean Abbott was run out, after he had nearly run out Cummins. But skipper held firm, as he had at Edgbaston, Mumbai, Kolkata and Christchurch over the past 18 months.

His 32 not out won’t go down as his most memorable, but it was the equal of any of his best innings in Australian colours. It was vindication too for his decision to have laser eye surgery in the winter to fix his vision, and some extensive batting work in Sydney with Australian batting consultant and well renown coach Trent Woodhill.

Australia’s chase began poorly with the new opening duo of Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk both falling inside the first four overs.

After an 85-run stand, Smith made an uncharacteristic error. He slashed a cut off Rauf straight to backward point to be out for 44.

Pakistan’s insistence on going short to Inglis paid off when he nailed another pull shot off Shaheen only to see Irfan run a long way to hang on to an outstanding catch in the deep.

Rauf, a Melbourne Stars favourite, then had the Pakistan fans in raptures as he cranked up the speed and Australia lost 3 for 0. Labuschagne top edged to deep third, undone by extra bounce. Maxwell nicked the next ball to Rizwan and Australia were 139 for 6.

Aaron Hardie and Abbott steadied briefly but it was fleeting. Hardie fell trying to back away and cut a ball from Mohammad Hasnain that hit the top of middle.

Enter the skipper for another salvage job. It was unconventional as it always is. He was bombed with short balls. But he keep scoring and kept surviving. Abbott was run out when Cummins pushed for a third. But he was there at the end yet again when the winning runs were scored to break the hearts of all those who don’t bleed green and gold.

Earlier, Australia set up the win with the ball. Most of Pakistan’s batters, with the exception of Babar Azam who made a classy 37 off 44, were exposed on a fast and bouncy MCG pitch after being sent in having come straight from the low spinning Test pitches of Multan and Rawalpindi last month. Rizwan top scored with 44 off 71 balls while Naseem made an outstanding 40 off 39 with four sixes from No. 9 to ensure Australia was at least chasing more than 200.

Starc and Cummins, fresh and in rhythm ahead of a big summer, put on a show in front of a very pro-Pakistan crowd. Starc’s 140kph thunderbolts accounted for Saim Ayub on debut and Abdullah Shafique.

The pair were opening the batting in ODI cricket for the first time after averaging just 8 as a pair in 12 Test innings together. Their international average dropped to 7.61 when Ayub chopped on trying to drive on the up.

Shafique looked like he was batting in a Test match. He defended, ducked and weaved on his way to 12 from 26 before failing to get his bat out of the way of a rising delivery from Starc wide of off as he tried to sway inside it.

Babar and Rizwan settled but never accelerated. Babar looked in fine touch but felt the pinch of the slow-moving scoreboard. He tried to create a scoring option off the back foot to Adam Zampa but picked the wrong length and lost his off stump.

Cummins welcomed Kamran Ghulam to Australia with a brute of a delivery. The whites of his eyes popped as Cummins’ 142.7kph bouncer reared at his throat. He got his hands up in time but could only glove it to Inglis.

Rizwan’s sluggish rearguard began to pick up steam when he hooked Starc into the stands at fine leg. But he fell to Labuschagne trying to sweep a wide legbreak only to get a top edge onto his helmet that popped up to Inglis.

Some late hitting from Naseem, Shaheen Afridi, and Irfan Khan, in the mould of the man who had presented his debut cap in Wasim Akram, lifted Pakistan from a dire position at 117 for 6 to 203.

Naseem and Shaheen showed the type of intent that Pakistan’s top order could have used, launching five sixes between them after the entire top seven had contributed one, before Shaheen was castled by Starc for 24 off 19.

Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling victory in the Hong Kong Sixes last night, toppling five-time champions Pakistan in a grand finale showdown at Kowloon. This triumph marks Sri Lanka’s second title since the tournament’s inception in 1992. Facing a formidable Pakistan team, Sri Lanka put on a dazzling performance, reining in their opponents to a modest total of 76 runs.

All-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan shone bright, delivering an electrifying first over in which he claimed two crucial wickets, setting the tone for the match. Spinner Tharindu Ratnayake then took the baton, further dismantling Pakistan’s lineup and leaving them in dire straits. Ratnayake’s brilliance didn’t go unnoticed—his impressive form throughout the tournament earned him the coveted Player of the Series title, highlighted by a stellar four-wicket haul in the semi-final against Bangladesh.

Adding a unique twist to the game, ambidextrous bowler Kamindu Mendis wowed the crowd and commentators alike, bowling right-arm to left-handers and left-arm to right-handers taking the ball away from the batters. The former S. Thomas’ College spinner claimed the most wickets in the tournament, making him a linchpin in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.

Sandun Weerakkody was also on fire, top-scoring in the finals with a rapid 34 off just 13 balls, featuring a boundary and four towering sixes. His match-winning knock was the cherry on top of an impressive unbeaten campaign that included two half-centuries.

Pakistan, known for defending low scores, tried to claw their way back into the game when Sri Lanka lost a few quick wickets. However, Ratnayake’s powerful strikes at the end steered Sri Lanka to victory with an over to spare, silencing any last-minute nerves.

Sri Lanka’s only previous win in the Hong Kong Sixes came in 2007 when Saman Jayantha’s heroics helped them lift the trophy. They were runners-up in 1993 and 2004, but last night, the team finally reclaimed the crown.

The victorious Sri Lankan team was captained by Lahiru Madushanka and featured Dhananjaya Lakshan, Thanuka Dabare, Lahiru Samarakoon, Sandun Weerakkody, Nimesh Vimukthi, and the man of the moment, Tharindu Ratnayake.

Signature, Sri Lanka’s premier menswear brand, proudly steps into the spotlight as the Official Formal and Casual Clothing Partner for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), extending from 2024 to 2027. This partnership, spanning both the men’s and women’s national cricket teams, comes with an ambitious vision to style champions, on and off the field.

Signature will outfit Sri Lanka’s finest athletes for upcoming major tournaments, including prestigious events under the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

This alliance celebrates a legacy of mutual respect and dedication, as Signature rejoins SLC, rekindling memories of two unforgettable triumphs: the iconic 1996 Cricket World Cup and the 2014 T20 World Cup. With its recent role as the Official Formal Clothing Partner during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Signature continues to elevate the brand’s legacy of supporting Sri Lankan cricket at critical global events.

At a grand unveiling ceremony, Signature’s latest menswear line was introduced with flair—a collection steeped in the elegance of cricket, featuring formal, ceremonial, and casual attire, all inspired by the timeless grace of the sport. Models took to the runway in pieces that evoke cricket’s enduring appeal, now accessible to every Sri Lankan seeking sophistication and style in their wardrobe. This exclusive line is available island-wide at Signature’s retail outlets and a vast dealer network, promising to bring the spirit of cricket to daily fashion.

Ashley de Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, shared his excitement: “By partnering with SLC, Signature reaches millions of fans across global cricket. This collaboration ensures that Signature, as a youth-centric brand, connects with its ideal audience.”

Amjad Hameed, Director of Signature, echoed this sentiment, “It’s an honour to strengthen our partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket, a beacon of national pride. We aim to embody Sri Lanka’s resilience, heritage, and respect, now woven into our special collection, offering fans everywhere fashion-forward pieces that embody both tradition and innovation.”

With Signature’s longstanding reputation since 1990 for delivering unmatched quality in Sri Lanka’s menswear market, this partnership represents a powerful blend of style, culture, and ambition.