Pakistan bowed out of the Asia Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dhaka.

Both teams badly needed a morale boost for the start of the ICC World Twenty20 in this dead-rubber last match of moderate Cup campaigns, in which they previously had just a solitary success each over associate team UAE to show for their efforts.

It was Sri Lanka, reigning world Twenty20 champions, who were to be disappointed.

Back-to-form Tillakaratne Dilshan (75no) and Dinesh Chandimal (58) had them on course for a bigger total, after being put in under lights.

The opening pair put on 110 together, and hit 17 fours and two sixes between them, but Mohammad Irfan returned to take two wickets in four balls in his final over as Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 150 for four.

Pakistan’s chase then always appeared on track, Umar Akmal top-scoring with 48 off 37 balls as Shahid Afridi’s men completed victory with four deliveries to spare.

World Twenty20 hosts India will face Bangladesh in the tournament final on Sunday.