There’s only one sight more compelling than a tearaway in full flight—two of them operating in tandem, hunting in a partnership. Pakistan have the most exciting pace attack of the Asia Cup, and for the first half of their innings in the final against Sri Lanka on Sunday, they were on top of their game. Babar Azam won an important toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a venue indisputably favouring the team chasing. 

Early blows

As if in thanksgiving, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf cranked it up, sending the speed gun and pulses racing and putting Sri Lanka’s top order through a torrid time. It took a well-chiselled half-century from Bhanuka Rajapaksa for them to recover and post a competitive 170 for six. It was Naseem who struck the first blow, like against India a fortnight back with the scalp of KL Rahul, in the first over of the game.