Two down, one to go. The one to go is the big one, the one that matters, the first final between the teams in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup. India and Pakistan have already faced off twice in this edition, over the last two Sundays. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have comfortably lorded both exchanges but must bring their ‘A’ game to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium if they are to retain the Asia Cup and extend their record to nine titles.

Without being at their imperious best, India have largely towered over the chasing pack. Sri Lanka ran them frightfully close in Friday’s dead rubber which India, somehow, clinched in the Super Over. At various stages, it seemed as if, led by Pathum Nissanka, the islanders would make light of a target of 203. That they accrued nearly 50 per cent of their 202 against undercooked pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who won’t figure in a first-choice XI, should not mask the fact that under pressure, the Indian bowling didn’t exactly acquit itself with credit.