Colombo Cobras Edge Kathmandu Yetis in a Last-Over Thriller to Lift ACL 2026

Colombo Cobras beat Kathmandu Yetis by five wickets in the final of the Asia Cricket League (ACL) 2026 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday night, claiming their maiden title. Chasing 179, Colombo reached 180 for 5 in 19.3 overs, sealing the match with three balls to spare. The scorecard looks straightforward; the contest was not. Put in to bat, Kathmandu built momentum through the first ten overs but lost their way in the last five, finishing on 178 for 6. On this ground that total felt par, but Colombo's batting depth made the difference at the death. Viraj Thapa anchored the Kathmandu innings with 71 off 54 balls, adding 64 for the first wicket with Sami ul-Haq (38 off 29). Captain Tenzin Dorji made 31 off 26 to steady the middle, but Kathmandu lost four wickets between the 13th and 17th overs and stalled. Colombo seamer Tariq bin-Salim exploited the pressure, taking 3 for 28 in four overs. Kathmandu managed only 19 runs in the last two overs — a shortfall that proved decisive. Colombo's chase stumbled early: two wickets down inside five overs, and 78 for 3 by the end of the 12th, needing 101 off 58 balls at more than ten an over against a probing spin pair. Rohit Sen and captain Nadeem Shahzad then turned the game. The pair added 71 off 47 balls. Sen made 58 off 41 with four fours and three sixes, twice clearing the ropes in the 16th over to bring the required rate under control. When he fell in the 18th, Colombo still needed 34 off 21. Shahzad held one end, finishing unbeaten on 44 off 33. Colombo needed 12 off the last over. Kathmandu handed the ball to Harry Lee, their most economical death bowler of the tournament. The first ball went for four through cover, the second brought two, and Nadeem finished it with a six over midwicket. Three balls remained; the bench emptied onto the field. "We repeated one thing all tournament — the game is ours until the last ball," Shahzad said afterwards. "Even at 78 for 3 there was no panic in the dressing room, because we knew one good partnership would turn it. The way Rohit took responsibility was exactly what a final needs." Kathmandu captain Dorji conceded the shortfall. "178 was probably 20 to 25 short on this ground, and we all know it. The bowlers did what was asked of them, but that six from Nadeem took the game away from us." The numbers back Colombo's title. They won six of eight league games and finished with the best net run rate in the competition. Viraj Thapa was named Player of the Tournament with 421 runs in 11 innings at an average of 46.8 and a strike rate of 138. Tariq bin-Salim led the wicket charts with 19 at an economy of 7.2. The result matters for the league too. For the first time in three seasons a South Asian franchise has won the title, and for the first time the final went to the last over. Organisers say average stadium attendance rose 18 per cent year on year, with digital broadcast numbers also at record levels. Questions remain. The league calendar may clash with future ICC tours, and several franchises have raised concerns over overseas player availability. Colombo coach Ravi Chandran pointed to this, saying the league needs alignment with the global calendar to stay sustainable. For now, the night belongs to Colombo. The squad returns on Monday morning, where a civic reception has been announced. The next season is proposed for January 2027, with two new franchises under consideration. But those inside the stadium on Sunday will likely remember the third ball of the final over for a long time.