Sri Lanka's renaissance continues as they beat India by six wickets in Asia Cup 2022

The revival of Sri Lanka as contenders on the world stage continued apace as they beat India in the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium.

The six-wicket win means the Sri Lankans are almost assured a place in Sunday’s final, while India’s title defence is all but over.

They completed it in nervy fashion, scurrying two byes off the penultimate ball of the final over, which included an overthrow by the bowler Arshdeep Singh.

Had either Arshdeep or wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant hit the stumps with the respective throws, each of the batters would have been run out. As it was, they both missed.

Sri Lanka, riding a wave of optimism after beating Afghanistan in the first Super 4 fixture, were deserving winners, even though India had started in formidable fashion.

Rohit Sharma hinted in the previous game against Pakistan he was returning to form, and he underlined the point with a fine innings.

PAKISTAN RATINGS: Mohammad Rizwan - 9. Exceptional Asia Cup for the wicketkeeper batsman with scores of 43, 78 and 71. Looks like he just won't get out. Taking a lot of pressure off captain Babar Azam. However, his workload with bat and gloves in the oppressive heat will be a concern for the team. AFP

The India captain made 72 in 41 balls. It was just his second half century in 17 innings in T20 international cricket.

India seemed set for a mammoth total when he was firing and they were 110 for two at the start of the 13th, but their progress stalled.

It started with Rohit’s dismissal, when he could only find Pathum Nissanka at point with an upper cut off Chamika Karunaratne’s slower-ball bouncer.

Dilshan Madushanka, the left-arm swing bowler, was the pick of Sri Lanka’s attack. His figures of three for 24 were impressive enough, but