SL down Pak in final’s dress rehearsal

Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga led Sri Lanka's bowling charge to set up a comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan on Friday in their dress rehearsal for the Asia Cup final.

Both teams have already booked their place in Sunday's title clash at the warm-up tournament to the Twenty20 World Cup in October-November.

Hasaranga returned figures of 3-21 with his leg-spin to help bowl out Pakistan for 121 in 19.1 overs after they elected to field first in Dubai.

Sri Lanka slipped to 29-3 in their chase before Pathum Nissanka (55 not out) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) put on a key stand of 51 as the island nation achieved their target with three overs to spare.

The left-handed Rajapaksa fell after his 19-ball knock but Nissanka stood firm and Hasaranga hit the winning runs as Sri Lanka registered their fourth straight victory.

It was the Sri Lankan bowlers who began the team's domination as debutant fast bowler Pramod Madushan struck in his first over.

He sent the in-form Mohammad Rizwan, who is second to Virat Kohli in the tournament's run-scoring charts, back to the pavilion for 14.

Chamika Karunaratne ended Fakhar Zaman's stay on 13 and Pakistan slipped further when Hasaranga bowled Azam.

Pakistan kept losing wickets and Hasaranga finished his spell with two successive wickets to flatten the Pakistan batting, which survived only 19.1 overs despite a late cameo of 26 by Mohammad Nawaz.

Spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Madushan took two wickets each.