Pakistan enters final in style

SHARJAH, APRIL 14. Pakistan put up another thoroughly professional performance to coast to a comfortable 28-run win against Sri Lanka and book a berth in the final of the triangular One-day series here on Friday.

Electing to bat, Pakistan raised a healthy 278 for nine in its allowed 50 overs, thanks to a 172-run third wicket stand between Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq and then restricted Sri Lanka to 250 for eight to register its third successive win in the tournament.

Shahid Afridi struck thrice in quick succession to derail the Sri Lankan run chase which at one stage looked to be coasting towards the target. A valiant unbeaten half-century by Chaminda Vaas was not sufficient as Sri Lanka stopped 28 runs short of the target.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana gave a flying start to their team, scoring at over six runs an over before both of them got out within a run of each other. Jayasuriya made 20, while Kaluwitharana scored 25.

Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jaywardene added 54 runs for the third wicket and took the score past the 100-run mark before Jayawardene was dismissed for 31.

Sri Lanka was comfortably placed at 140 for three in the 25th over before Afridi struck with his gentle leg-spinners. He claimed Russel Arnold caught behind of his second delivery, a poor umpiring decision since TV replays showed the ball passed at least a couple of inches from Arnold's bat. He then caught and bowled both Atapattu, for 36, and Indika de Saram to reduce Sri Lanka to 149 for six.

Having lost too many wicket, Sri Lanka could not accelerate the scoring and Vaas was left to fight a losing battle. He remained unbeaten on 50, his maiden half-century in One-day internationals.

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