It was a rather close game and India came out trumps against Pakistan at Dambulla. The end result was that India went through to the final of the Asia Cup whereas Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament, even before the last round of games had begun.
Pakistan won the toss and rather expectedly batted first. Salman Butt and Imran Farhat provided a much better start than Butt had provided along with Shahzaib Hasan in the first game, and even after the dismissal of Farhat, Shoaib Malik played his typically delicate innings. Pakistan was 144/1 in the 29th over with Butt having completed another half century against India, while Malik looking quite set as well. 
Zaheer Khan broke the partnership when he bowled Malik off a ball that came in, and Butt’s 74 was ended by an excellent fielding by Ravindra Jadeja off his own bowling. Umar Amin left soon after, and despite cameos from Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, the Pakistanis were 227/7 at one stage. It needed Kamran Akmal to smash a 41-ball 51 to get the things moving for Pakistan and took them to 267 all out. 
The target was a tough one, and Virender Sehwag’s early injury made it even more difficult for the Indians. He was dismissed early, and when Virat Kohli was also sent on his way by Saeed Ajmal, they were 82/2 in the 18th over.
Captain MS Dhoni used the opportunity to bat up the order and added 98 runs with Gambhir. Gambhir got into arguments with many an opposition and was finally dismissed by his nemesis in the game, for 83. Yet, the Indians needed less than 90 in the last 15 overs, and the game was theirs to be lost, which is exactly what the side seemed to be doing.
Rohit Sharma was out LBW, MS Dhoni’s dismissal was a freak show that he would not like to see again, whereas Ravindra Jadeja just could not get going against the pace. With 48 required off 28 balls, the side was in trouble, especially given that Suresh Raina was the last of the recognised batsmen at the crease.
Raina and Harbhajan batted sensibly to get closer to the target, as the former went after the Shoiab Akhtar. Seven runs were required off the last six balls before Raina’s innings was cut short to a run-out, but Harbhajan Singh managed to slam a six off Aamer and the Indians had romped home in a thriller.
India had won by three wickets and with one ball to spare as Gambhir won the man of the match award