Anwar and Inzamam power Pakistan to win

Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq hit half-centuries on Friday to guide Pakistan to a 28-run victory over Sri Lanka and into the final of the Sharjah triangular series.

Pakistan made a challenging 278 for nine in their 50 overs and then restricted Sri Lanka to 250 for eight, wrist-spinner Shahid Afridi taking three for 44.

It was Pakistan's third successive victory in the tournament, which also features New Zealand.

New Zealand have lost their first two matches while Sri Lanka have posted one victory in three games.

Anwar and Inzamam shared a third wicket stand of 172 to set up the Pakistan win. Anwar cracked a solid 88 off 99 balls with nine fours while Inzamam hit 87 off 111 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Both men also reached personal milestones as they helped Pakistan rack up the tournament's highest score so far.

Anwar, playing his 221st one-day international, completed 8,000 runs when he was on 72. He also became the first player to score 2,000 runs in Sharjah.

Inzamam, matching Anwar stroke for stroke, also took his tally to 2,000 runs in the desert venue.

Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss, stuttered for a while early in their innings when they lost both openers cheaply.

Imran Nazir (two) fell to Nuwan Zoysa in the fourth over while Shahid Afridi (13) was run out after a mix-up with Anwar off the very next ball. A neat throw from Muttiah Muralitharan left him stranded way off the crease.

But Anwar and Inzamam lifted the faltering innings with sensible batting. Anwar, enjoying a rich vein of form in the tournament, followed his 90 and 81 not out with another fluent display.

He was eventually trapped leg before by left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas in his second spell in the 37th over.

Inzamam, equally at ease against the Sri Lankan attack, followed Anwar soon afterwards, brilliantly caught by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya off Muralitharan in the 40th over.

In reply, Sri Lanka tried to keep up with the required rate, but all their frontline batsmen failed to build partnerships.

Although they were reasonably well placed at 140 for three in the 26th over, the introduction of Afridi to the attack put Pakistan on the road to victory.

Romesh Kaluwitharana (25), Marvan Atapattu (36) and Mahela Jayawardene (31) all lost their wickets trying to accelerate.

Tail-ender Vaas ensured his team reached a respectable enough total with an unbeaten 50 off 59 balls.

Mail Cricket Editor