Before the action even began, both captains predicted that the pitch would struggle to offer more than 160 runs. Sri Lanka seemed determined to disprove that early on. Kamil Mishara played with confidence, timing the ball sweetly and giving the side hope of a competitive total somewhere close to 170.
But once Pakistan’s spinners took centre stage, everything changed. The middle overs became a nightmare for Sri Lanka. Mohammad Nawaz was virtually unplayable—varying his pace, finding sharp turn and refusing to stray from a nagging line. wickets fell in clusters. Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub joined in, making run-scoring almost impossible. What once looked like a promising innings soon turned into a procession. Sri Lanka folded for 114.
Pakistan’s chase started sensibly. The openers did not rush, respecting the conditions just as Nawaz had advised during the interval. Sahibzada Farhan made 23 from 22, while the other opener produced a steady 36 from 33. Captain Salman Agha chipped in with 14 before departing.
Sri Lanka’s spinners did try to fight back. Rathnayake grabbed 2 for 11 with impressive economy, and Hasaranga took one more. For a few overs, Pakistan looked slightly uncomfortable. But Babar Azam’s composure made all the difference. His unbeaten 37 off 34 balls was not flashy, but it was exactly what the moment required—calculated, mature and unfailingly calm.
Pakistan finally reached 115 in the 19th over, sparking celebrations as they secured the title. Nawaz, unsurprisingly, was named Player of the Match. For Sri Lanka, Mishara’s 59 from 47 stood as a lone act of defiance on a day when Pakistan’s spinners made the pitch entirely their own.